By Ezechukwu Chidozie
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that all the 18 registered political parties have submitted copies of their Membership Register to the Commission in compliance with the new Electoral Act 2022, which asked them to do so before their primary elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this on Thursday at the Second Regular Quarterly Meeting with Media Executives held at INEC Conference Room, Abuja.
According to him political parties have all submitted both the soft and hardcopies of their Membership Register to the Commission in compliance with the new Electoral Act 2022, saying that none of them want to run foul of the law governing the conduct of the elections.
Said he: “I can confirm that as at last week political parties have compliedwith
the Provision of Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2022; that required each party to maintain a Membership Register in hard and soft copy and to make such register available to the Commission not later than 30 days before the date fixed for primaries, congresses and conventions.
“Although some political parties submitted what can go for few pages of papers but they have all the same complied. So far, all the political parties have complied.
“It is a mandatory requirement of the law and all parties are required to comply”.
Meanwhile, the INEC Chairman has urged the media to help the Commission to educate the public on the working of the new Electoral Act 2022 especially as it relates to Sections 60, 62 and 64 which deals with the Electronic Transmission and Collation of Results.
He also praised the media for the role it played in the fight for the passing into law and giving assent to the Electoral Act 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that
to ensure the effective implementation of the law, the media must again play a vital role of educating the populace.
Yakubu told the media that: “since our last meeting held on 21st January this year, the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) has been repealed and replaced by the Electoral Act 2022, which came into force on Friday 25th February 2022.
“This is the fourth time that the Electoral Act was repealed and re-enacted in Nigeria since 1999. On this note, the Commission appreciates the media for the sustained advocacy that resulted in this historic accomplishment. It is now time to ensure the effective implementation of the law”.
The INEC Chairman however told the media that there are many progressive provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 which require clear understanding to guide implementation.
According to him, “one of such provisions is the electronic transmission of election results. At this meeting, we will discuss the implementation of the provisions of Sections 60, 62 and 64 of the Electoral Act 2022 regarding the management of election results”.
The highlight of the the meeting was the demonstration of the new technological devices designed and developed by INEC ICT Division headed by Engineer Chidi Nwafor and which have been deployed for the off cycle elections and also being used for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) as well as upcoming Ekiti and Osun state governorship elections.
Those who attended the meeting include the President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chinedu Isiguzo; Chairman, NUJ FCT Chapter Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche; top Editors and media practitioners.
Others in attendance are the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony; Director General of the Electoral Institute; Directors and other Senior Officials of the Commission.
