As part of its plans to ensure a transparent electoral system, the House of Representatives in Nigeria has passed a bill that seeks to amend Nigeria’s electoral act for a second reading.
This bill will bar former officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from engaging in or contesting for elective positions within five years of their retirement, resignation or exit of any form from the electoral commission.
The bill, sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on House Services, Olawale Raji, seeks to even the playing field for political contenders at all levels by creating a new sub-section 2 in Section 146 of the Electoral Act which provides that: “A person who holds or has held office as a member of the Commission appointed by the President by virtue of the 3rd Schedule, Part 1(F) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Resident Electoral Commissioner appointed under the Act shall not, until after a period of five years immediately after retirement, resignation or official relief of duties, be qualified for any elective office in Nigeria.”
Explaining the bill further, Hon. Raji argued that the amendment would prevent a situation where a former electoral officer can leverage the unique knowledge afforded them as a result of their time with INEC in a bid to sway election results in their favour. He also stressed that the information privy to election officers such as a National Electoral Commissioner and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (RECs) are not available to other members of the public, which therefore gives them an edge if they decide to run for office.
“It has become imperative to restrict them from participating or aspiring for elective positions for at least five years after their disengagement from the commission. This will ensure that such officers lose touch with recent happenings in INEC before they are allowed to contest elections,” he added.
Citing the controversial case of the former Cross River State REC, Dr Frankland Briyal, who resigned from the commission to contest for Governor in Bayelsa State, Hon. Raji argued that the case was a “national embarrassment for our electoral system.”
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Electoral and Political Matters for further legislation.
This story is part of our new series on Nigeria where we analyse electoral reform in the country ahead of the next general elections in 2023.
