Yiaga Africa is looking for alternate methods of voter identification during elections

Yiaga Africa, a non-governmental organisation that promotes participatory democracy, human rights, and civic involvement, has urged for the eradication of PVCs as the sole means of voter identification during elections.

Yiaga Africa’s Board Chairman, Dr Hussaini Abdu, made the call on Friday in Abuja, at the official presentation of the organization’s Report on Nigeria’s 2023 General Election.

Adbu stated that the proposal would address a slew of issues related to the collection of PVCs and voter accreditation, which disenfranchises a large number of voters during elections.

Following the implementation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, which saves biometric information on voters, he emphasised the necessity for a reconsideration of the demand for voter identity.

“As a result, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should abandon the use of PVC in favour of other legally acceptable forms of identification for voter verification, such as a driver’s licence, an international passport, or a national identity card,” he stated.

He also urged the National Assembly to change the election law framework to allow INEC to produce the voter register using the National Identity Management Commission’s national identity database.

According to him, this will lower the cost of elections, make regular updates to the register easier, and promote harmonisation of the national database.

The study also advocated for more policy reforms for INEC to strengthen the election process, according to the chairman.

He believes that electoral reforms can result in credible elections if stakeholders, particularly INEC and political parties, follow the rules and procedures.

“An overhaul of the INEC commissioner appointment process is required to restore public trust in the electoral commission.”

“There is also an urgent need to unbundle the commission and shift certain institutional responsibilities that it currently bears to other institutions.”

“For example, the commission’s responsibility for political party registration and regulation, as well as electoral offence prosecution, should be removed.”

Concerning INEC’s institutional independence, Abdu stated that the report recommended that professional abilities and qualifications be taken into account while appointing appointments to INEC.

He also stated that nominees should be subjected to public scrutiny before being submitted to the Senate for confirmation.

“We also want INEC to be unbundled and, as such, recommend that the National Assembly establish a Political Party Registration and Regulatory Commission and an Electoral Offences Commission through legislation.”

“This will reduce INEC’s enormous and onerous responsibilities, which will, in the long run, improve its efficiency, effectiveness, and credibility,” he stated.

He also encouraged INEC to resolve the ambiguities, complexities, and deficiencies in the electoral legislative framework, as well as to improve the integrity and accuracy of voter registration. (NAN)