2027: Obi, Amaechi, Ezekwesili, others demand sweeping electoral reforms

By John Alechenu, Abuja

Ahead of the 2027 wide elections, salient Nigerians and civilian nine leaders person called for broad electoral reforms to fortify the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.

The recommendations, which covered legal, procedural, and administrative changes, were portion of discussions astatine an Electoral Reform Summit held via Zoom connected Wednesday.

Participants included the 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi; erstwhile Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; erstwhile Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; governmental economist, Prof. Pat Utomi; and Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, among others.

Speakers astatine the acme expressed interest astir what they described arsenic the retrogression of Nigeria’s elections since 2015. They lamented that the gains recorded during the 2015 elections had been eroded by consequent mediocre performances and arguable judicial pronouncements, which they argued relied much connected technicalities than substantive justice.

In her presentation, Dr. Ezekwesili advocated for nonstop backing of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), insisting that the electoral umpire indispensable beryllium held accountable for the funds allocated to it. She besides called for INEC to beryllium fixed enhanced prosecutorial powers to clasp politicians accountable for electoral misconduct.

“We request technology. We indispensable present necessitate a codification for the usage of exertion successful the caller Electoral Act,” she said, portion besides pushing for reforms successful the assignment of electoral commissioners, with civilian nine playing a cardinal role.

Ezekwesili further stressed the request for accountability wrong the judiciary connected election-related matters, proposing an automated strategy for assigning predetermination cases to judges, and urging the National Judicial Council (NJC) to subject erring judges.

On his part, Mr. Obi maintained that ideology tin lone thrive if elections bespeak the volition of the people. He emphasized reforms that warrant escaped and just polls, with unafraid collation and transmission of results from polling units.

“It would beryllium a treble calamity if Nigerians, aft years of flawed leadership, besides suffer religion successful elections. We indispensable hole the strategy to guarantee each ballot counts and reflects the people’s mandate,” Obi said.

Other contributors described Nigeria’s electoral challenges arsenic a “chicken-and-egg dilemma,” stressing that INEC cannot present credible elections without cardinal structural reforms.

The station 2027: Obi, Amaechi, Ezekwesili, others request sweeping electoral reforms appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.