Yiaga Africa Calls for Electoral Act Amendment to Enable Early Voting

• Yiaga Africa urges Electoral Act amendment for early voting by essential service providers to promote electoral inclusivity
• Recommendations include candidate photos on ballots and increased transparency in election administration for improved electoral quality

Yiaga Africa has called upon the National Assembly to amend the 2022 Electoral Act to facilitate early voting for individuals who provide essential services, intending to promote inclusivity in the electoral process.

Samson Itodo, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, made this request during the unveiling of the organization’s report on the Election Study and Observation Mission (ESOM) to the Liberia 2023 General Elections, themed “Liberia 2023 Elections and Lessons for Nigeria,” in Abuja.

Itodo emphasized the importance of political stakeholders demonstrating a strong commitment to democracy and nation-building by upholding national values such as patriotism, integrity, and public interest within electoral politics.

Yiaga Africa proposed several key amendments to enhance the electoral process, including the inclusion of photographs and names of candidates on the ballot paper in Nigeria’s elections. This measure aims to improve the quality of electoral preferences and reduce the number of invalidated votes.

The organization also recommended that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and state electoral commissions commit to greater transparency in election administration through proactive disclosure of election-related information and consistent application of election rules and guidelines.

Yiaga Africa further urged the National Assembly and INEC to amend the Electoral Act and INEC Guidelines to introduce early voting, allowing eligible voters on essential election duties, such as security personnel, INEC staff, election observers, and journalists, to cast their votes during elections.

Additionally, the organization called on the National Assembly to review the Electoral Act to address ambiguities in the results collation and transmission process and clarify the role of technology in the results management value chain. They also stressed the need for strengthening electoral laws to make electronic transmission of results mandatory, including the uploading of polling unit-level results and result sheets used at different levels of collation.

Yiaga Africa’s recommendations aim to enhance the transparency, inclusivity, and efficiency of the electoral process in Nigeria, drawing valuable lessons from international electoral experiences, particularly Liberia’s 2023 General Elections.