Eminent scholars, lawyers, and other key stakeholders are set to push for fresh electoral reforms amid rising suspense over who succeeds the national chairman of the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu as his tenure lapses on November 9 this year.
Among the key figures behind the initiative are former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Dr Olisa Agbakoba; human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana; economist, Professor Pat Utomi, former Northern Elders Forum (NEF) chairman, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former presidential candidate, Professor Kingsley Moghalu, former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili and an ex-INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega.
Others include: Professor Jibrin Ibrahim, constitutional lawyer, Clement Nwankwo, Engineer Buba Galadima, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, NLC president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, Dr Usman Bugaje, Dr Bilikisu Magoro and Mr Samson Itodo,
The issue of who succeeds the current INEC has gained traction lately among various stakeholders in the nation’s electoral system as Yakubu would have spent the maximum two terms of five years each in office, having assumed the position for second term on November 9, 2020.
He was first sworn as INEC chairman on November 9, 2015 and midwived the 2019 and the 2023 general elections under the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
Checks by the Nigerian Tribune at the weekend showed that the assemblage of professionals, former ministers, renowned lawyers, activists has concluded plans to hold the national dialogue on electoral reforms with the aim of proffering ways to avert certain contentious issues that trailed the 2023 elections in the country.
This is even as the leaders are to launch a new electoral reform platform called: Alliance for Defence of Democracy (ADD) on October 1, to drive and structure the campaign and mobilisation process for the reforms.
The initiative on the reforms is at the instance of the National Consultative Front (NCFront), in collaboration with the organised labour and the civil society groups.
NCF spokesman, Mallam Hamisu San Turaki, who unveiled the plans in a release on Sunday, said the mass campaign and movement would be launched during the dialogue to mobilise Nigerians home and abroad for an appropriate electoral framework preparatory to the 2027 elections.
The spokesman confirmed that the planned dialogue on electoral reforms was the high point of the decisions reached by stakeholders at a leadership consultative meeting hosted by the National Consultative Front in Lagos at the weekend.
He explained that the stakeholders at the meeting stressed the urgent need for electoral reforms at the recent national constitutional summit organised by elder statesmen and leaders of Thought under the aegis of The Patriots and Nigeria Political Summit Group (NPSG).
He added that the latest initiative is designed to drive critical reforms in the electoral laws of Nigeria, especially those that dimmed the credibility of the 2023 elections namely; compulsory electronic transmission of election results, effective criminalization of votes buying, enactment of early and Diaspora voting as initiated by the House of Representatives, proportional representation in government, particularly special seats for women and other vulnerable groups, among others
He disclosed that the gathering would be addressed by NLC president, Comrade Joe Ajaero among other leaders.
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