The Federal Capital Territory chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students has emphasised an urgent need to reform the Independent National Electoral Commission and other relevant bodies involved in the country’s electoral process to foster transparency and credibility in future polls.
The appeal was made by the General Secretary of NANS, FCT Joint Campus Council, Aina Oluwatomisin, at a national multi-stakeholders forum jointly organised by Kimpact Development Initiative and National Democratic Institute on Tuesday in Abuja.
Oluwatomisin, who canvassed the involvement of students in electoral processes, said the 2023 general elections had shown that INEC can do better in terms of the Biometric Voter Accreditation System, procedures and security concerns among others.
He said, “Another major issue we have that also needs to be worked on is the enforcement of laws that are not actually in place. Some are in place but the enforcement is low.
“So, we have to work very accurately on the enforcement of those laws that are in place. And as you can see, a lot of reforms have to be done in INEC and other bodies that are needed to be included in this electoral process for us to have saner future elections in Nigeria.”
The NANS scribe further raised concerns regarding the distribution of government palliatives, noting that many students, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory, have yet to benefit from the initiatives despite their dire need.
Earlier in her address, the Executive Director of Kimpact Development Initiative, Bukola Idowu, highlighted the diverse perspectives surrounding the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
Idowu said while some lauded the polls as the best the country ever had, others deemed it unsatisfactory.
“However, there is a unanimous consent on the need for electoral reforms. The conversation seeks to delve into the intricacies of the election, particularly focusing on how to initiate reforms and ensure youth involvement.
“One crucial aspect is integrating technology, especially electronic voting systems to enhance transparency and efficiency. Addressing election security is also paramount,” he said.