By Our Correspondent
Lagos, Feb. 25, ’25 (TNZ) The Collective Movement (TCM), an NGO, has proposed an amendment to the 2022 Electoral Act, with the backing of statutory enactment.
TheNewsZenith reports that the body noted that the amendment requires the procedural and technological innovations, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) introduced.
High Chief Franklin Ekechukwu, Founder of TCM made this known in a statement, on Tuesday, in Lagos.
“The Supreme Court had, especially in Jegede V. INEC and Wike V. Peterside, declared that INEC was not legally required to transmit election results electronically.
“The Supreme Court and the lower courts, have held that the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), is an INEC innovation.
“It is not a collation system and cannot constitute a part of the collation system.
“The courts have concluded that the IRev is only for viewing purposes, and nothing else.
“Therefore, the Supreme Court had jettisoned the electronic transmission of results and the INEC election,” TheNewsZenith quotes Ekechukwu as stating.
He said the Results Viewing (IRev) portal was not provided for in the Electoral Act 2022.
“It was only introduced by the commission in its regulations and guidelines,’’ he added.
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Ekechukwu noted that non-validation of the legality of the innovations introduced by INEC, through its regulations, guidelines and manuals “is at the core of a reform of the nation’s electoral system”.
“This will undoubtedly strengthen INEC as a public institution and restore public trust in the electoral process.
“It will thereby ensure credible elections and ultimately, good governance in Nigeria.”
Ekechukwu explained that the courts have maintained that innovations such as the smart card reader, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the IRev require statutory enactment to enjoy the full force of law.
“TCM, therefore, calls on the joint National Assembly Committees on Electoral matters to immediately begin the process for the statutory enactment of all INEC innovations and regulations, etc. into the Electoral Act.
“This will ensure that our elections are credible and this credibility in our electoral system will enhance good governance in the society,” TheNewsZenith further quoted from the statement.
To uphold sanctity, integrity and maintain democracy, Ekechukwu said INEC must convey the transparency of the process to the people.
“The judiciary and the agencies upholding the democratic process of independence are important.
“For democracy to succeed in Nigeria, the legislatures must have the willingness to make the laws that will advance it,” Ekechukwu noted. (TNZ)
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