Why we’re adopting simultaneous accreditation, voting by INEC boss

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof
Mahmood Yakubu yesterday explained why the electoral umpire adopted
the simultaneous accreditation and voting for the forthcoming
elections.

The model, the INEC boss said, was recommended by the
Commonwealth Observer Mission to the 2015 general elections.

Prof Yakubu also said since the adoption of the simultaneous
accreditation and voting, the commission had conducted 194 off
season elections and had deployed the same process in all the
elections.

He spoke yesterday during an audience with the Commonwealth
Observer Mission to Nigeria led by former Tanzanian President, Dr
Jakaya Kikwete in Abuja.

He also informed the 2019 Commonwealth Observer team that the
simultaneous accreditation and voting has been enshrined in the
Regulations and Guidelines for conduct of this year’s
elections.

The INEC chairman recalled that the report of the 2015
Commonwealth Observer Mission contained 32 recommendations as well
as identified institutions that should implement those
recommendations.

Yakubu stated that out of the eight recommendations proposed to
be implemented by INEC, the commission, after studying the report,
implemented some administratively while those that require
amendment of the constitution or the electoral act would have to go
through legislative process.

He said: “The last Commonwealth Observer Mission had recommended
that we should abolish that system that archaic system, that as
citizens or voters are accredited, they should be able to vote at
the same time and we have implemented this re commendation way back
in January 2016 when we conducted one of the governorship elections
in this country.

“Since then, we have conducted 194 off season elections and all
have been conducted on the basis of simultaneous accreditation and
voting or what you call continuous accreditation and voting.

“It didn’t require an amendment to the electoral legal framework
for the commission to continue with the system of accreditation and
voting.

“For that reason, the commission used its powers under the
electoral act to make Regulations and Guidelines. It’s now in
regulations for the conduct of 2019 general elections. The method
of voting will be continuous accreditation and voting.”

Leader of the team and former President of Tanzania, Dr Jakaya
Kikwete, said the team had come for an update on the preparations
made by the commission.

In a statement, Dr. Kiwete said the mission will be impartial in
its assessment of the elections, adding that an interim statement
on its preliminary observations will be issued on February 18.

He said the18-man observers were drawn from Africa, Asia,
Europe, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

The observers have a mandate to observe the opening, voting,
closing, counting and the results management processes.

According to the statement, this year’s election will be the
sixth time a Commonwealth Observer Group will be monitoring
elections in Nigeria since 1999.

He said: “Our group was constituted following an invitation from
the Independent National Election Commission, drawing together 18
eminent persons from across the different regions of the
Commonwealth, including Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and the
Pacific.

“We come in our own individual capacities, bringing a wide range
of expertise in the areas of election administration, political
development, law, human rights, civil society, gender, youth, as
well as media.

“As a group, we are here to observe the organization and conduct
of the election process as a whole, and will form an impartial and
independent assessment of its credibility.

“The Commonwealth Observer Group will consider the pre-election
period, polling day itself, as well as the post-election period.
Our main task is to assess whether the elections have been
conducted according to the national, regional and international
standards to which Nigeria has committed itself, including its own
laws.

“On election day, we will observe the opening, voting, closing,
counting and the results management processes.”

It also said it will submit a final report to the Commonwealth
Secretary-General, and thereafter share with the Federal
Government, INEC, political parties and the Commonwealth
governments before making it public.

The group expressed hope that its presence will confirm the
unwavering solidarity of the Commonwealth with Nigeria as the
country conducts the elections.

The group, however, encouraged all citizens to “play their part
in ensuring peaceful and credible elections this weekend.”