Former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Attahiru Jega, has renewed calls for urgent electoral reforms in Nigeria, leveraging his experience from his tenure between 2010 and 2015. Jega’s recommendations, including unbundling INEC for greater efficiency, banning cross-carpeting by politicians, and curbing the President’s overwhelming power to appoint INEC’s top officials, are essential to reform Nigeria’s flawed electoral system.

The need for electoral reform is evident. Nigeria’s elections have consistently fallen short of the democratic ideal, as demonstrated in the controversial February/March general elections and the off-season governorship polls in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states. Jega, speaking at a recent Citizens’ Town Hall on Electoral Reforms in Abuja, organized by the National Assembly and YIAGA Africa, emphasized that comprehensive reform is critical for restoring credibility to Nigeria’s elections.

One of Jega’s key proposals is the ban on political cross-carpeting, where politicians, often election losers, switch parties immediately after elections, gravitating towards the winning party. This practice, rampant in Nigeria, underscores the absence of strong political ideology and principles among politicians. In many advanced democracies, such as the United Kingdom, political parties like the Conservatives and Labour maintain distinct ideologies, and cross-carpeting is rare. Politicians who defect are often relegated to irrelevance. In contrast, in Nigeria, politicians shamelessly criss-cross parties, particularly during primary elections, when denied party tickets. Jega’s suggestion to strengthen the law to deter such opportunistic behavior is vital to restoring integrity to Nigeria’s political system.

Jega also raised concerns about the President’s power to appoint the INEC chairman, National Commissioners, and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs). In a political environment characterized by a “do-or-die” mentality, this concentration of power is dangerous. Former President Muhammadu Buhari and his successor, President Bola Tinubu, both nominated political loyalists to these critical positions, raising concerns about the independence of INEC. Jega argues that this practice undermines fair elections and should be revisited to ensure impartiality in the electoral process.

Additionally, Jega highlighted the need to reduce INEC’s workload. He advocated for unbundling the commission, which currently has an overwhelming mandate, making it difficult to focus on its core responsibilities. This reform could help improve the commission’s performance and ensure it can better meet its electoral mandates.

Nigeria’s electoral system also suffers from issues of violence, ballot box snatching, voter suppression, and the manipulation of election results. Despite heavy security deployments during elections, these issues persist. There is also ongoing controversy surrounding the failure to electronically transmit election results, which undermines transparency and credibility. Frequently, the judiciary, rather than voters, ends up determining election winners, further eroding public confidence in the electoral process.

Voter apathy is another growing problem. Voter turnout during the 2023 presidential election dropped to 26.72 percent, a significant decline from 69.1 percent in 2003. In some off-season elections, turnout has been as low as 10.3 percent, reflecting the disillusionment of the electorate.

To address these challenges, the National Assembly should prioritize electoral reforms that deepen the application of technology, including ensuring the electronic transmission of results. Recommendations from previous panels, such as the 2007 Muhammadu Uwais panel, should also be implemented, particularly the proposal that winners of elections under legal challenge should not be sworn in until the court cases are resolved.

Jega also advocates for the introduction of early voting, as practiced in countries like the United States, to reduce the pressure on Election Day and improve voter turnout. Special courts to prosecute electoral offenders should be established to enforce accountability and deter electoral malpractices.

In conclusion, Attahiru Jega’s call for electoral reforms is crucial for Nigeria’s democratic future. To ensure free, fair, and credible elections, these reforms must be implemented with urgency.