Group Calls on President Buhari to Address Shortage of RECs

A Civil society group, the YIAGA Africa has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently appoint more Residents Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission to address the present shortfall.

The Executive Director of YIAGA, Mr Samson Itodo made the call while addressing Newsmen on the outcome of the Osun Governorship election in Osogbo.

Mr Itodo noted that twenty five RECs of the Commission would be retiring and require urgent replacement ahead of the next year’s election.

“2023 Election is around the corner and it portend grave consequence for the Nigeria’s electoral system to go the election with such inadequate critical officials of the Commission”.

The YIAGA Director suggested that such individual to be appointed must be people of impeccable character,moral standing and incorruptible tendency.

He also added the need to consider gender balance in the appointment, noting that only two women are currently Resident Electoral Commissioners in Nigeria.

Mr Itodo also charged the National Assembly to accelerate the process once the appointees were presented before them.

Earlier, the Chairman of the YIAGA AFRICA Board Dr Hussain Abdu had presented it’s report on the Osun election where it commended INEC for the significant improvement in logistics management for the Osun 2022 Governorship election, saying the personnel and essential materials, such as the Voters Register, BVAS,voting cubicles ad ballot boxes, were deployed early in most polling units.

Dr Abdu said the organization condemned cases of violence and disruption of the voting and results Collation process by thugs and hoodlums, especially violence targeted at NYSC members and INEC staff.

“Although these cases are isolated,the undermine Nigeria’s electoral reform project. YIAGA extends it’s wishes to polling officials who suffered severe injuries due to attacks and violence against polling officials”.

“YIAGA AFRICA calls on INEC to audit the newly created polling units and ensure equitable distribution of voters to the polling units. In cases where voters have been allotted to new polling units, INEC should update the voter records on it’s website and communicate the changes to prevent voter disenfranchisement.”

Adenitan Akinola