Skip to main content

Electoral reforms critical to achieving credible elections in ECOWAS- Jega

Prof. Attahiru Jega, Former Chairman, Independent National Election Commission (INEC), Nigeria has said that an overhaul of the electoral system in ECOWAS Member States is critical in achieving credible, free and fair elections in the sub-region. Jega made this known during a Technical Session at the ongoing High-level Parliamentary Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament on Thursday in Winneba, Ghana. According to him, independence, relative autonomy, integrity of the electoral body with a good legal framework will bring the desired reforms in the electoral process of ECOWAS countries for good governance. Jega said that achieving credible elections also requires the collaboration of all stakeholders, adding that the electoral body alone cannot not succeed in delivering credible elections if other sectors are compromised. “When we examine the conduct of elections in the last two decades in ECOWAS Member States, we can see some progress that has been made but obviously there are lots of challenges which remains. “To address these challenges, we need to pay attention to bringing about substantial and substantives reforms of the electoral processes and electoral systems which we use in the West African Sub-region. “Most specifically we need to pay attention fast to the integrity of the election management body itself. This is key because whatever lacks integrity is unlikely to bring outcomes to integrity. He continued that We need to ensure that there is a robust legal framework which also have integrity as a framework for the preparations and conducts of elections, and I think quite often the legal framework to which electoral bodies conduct elections leaves much to be desired. “It is very important that attention has to be paid in the appointment of election management body to not only personal integrity but competence and impartiality, if not neutrality. “These are very important values can help not only establish an effective and efficient and component body but can also withstand negative pressures either from incumbent regimes, or from political parties, or even from candidates. “Because regrettably, most of our political parties, both incumbent governments and candidates want to win elections either by hook or by crook. “And if you have a weak election management body or an election body that can be politically factious then there will be challenges of achieving at the core objectives of elections as it relates to democracy and governance,” Jega said. Prof. Kojo Afari-Gyan, Former Chairman, Electoral Commission of Ghana also stressed the need for synergy across all stakeholders to guarantee the conduct of a free and fair elections in ECOWAS Countries. Afari-Gyan said that personal integrity of electoral staff and systems integrity are also critical factors that must be enforced for a free and fair process. He explained that staff of the electoral body fails in personal integrity, once there is system integrity, it would be easy to detect what went wrong and where it went wrong. “Democratic consolidation is a multifaceted process of implemental gains in the performance of the functions mandated to be done by the institutions that form the democratic state. “It is not a one institution thing. The responsibility does not lie in the hands of the government alone, political parties have a role to play, the police have a role to play. “The way they carry out their duties will always make an impact in the quality of delivery. “Talking about integrity, we must distinguish between personal integrity and systems integrity. “Where we cannot guarantee personal integrity, we can ensure system integrity, which means we can trace where the lapses occurred and find solutions to them,” Afari-Gyan said.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Abuja Bank Robbery: Police Arrest Alleged Mastermind source: Channels The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested the mastermind of the foiled robbery of a first-generation ba nk in the Mpape area of Abuja last Saturday. The suspect, a barman identified as Ernest was nabbed at his hideout by police detectives and is presently being held at the command headquarters by old CBN building, Garki, Abuja. The police had earlier arrested four suspects and gunned down the fourth member of the robbery gang identified as Patrick during the operation. The FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, had on Tuesday paraded the gang members including a bank employee, Larry Ehizo, 30, Timothy Joe, 21, Princewill Obinna, 24 and Elijah David, 19. Ehizo who allegedly drove the gang members to the bank claimed he was blackmailed by Ernest to carry out the heist. Narrating how the failed heist was executed, David said Ehizo informed the gang members that the r...
Post a Comment
Read more
Nigerian senator dies in UK A senator representing Cross River North, Rose Oko, is dead. The 63-year-old senator died on Monday night at a United Kingdom (UK) medical facility where she had been receiving treatment in the last one month. Oko was a member of the House of Representatives representing Yala/Ogoja Federal Constituency during the 7th National Assembly. Senator Oko was elected into office as the first female representative from her constituency in June 2011, and is currently in her second-term member of the upper chamber and served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment. Her death comes about six weeks after Plateau senator, Ignatius Longjan, passed on and three months after Imo senator, Ben Uwajumogwu, died.
Post a Comment
Read more

ECOWAS Parliament bemoan low remittance of Community Levy

ECOWAS Parliament bemoan low remittance of Community Levy The Legislative arm of the Economic Community Of West African State (ECOWAS Parliament) has lamented low remittance of Community Levy by member states. Speaker of The ECOWAS Parliament, Rt Hon Sidie Mohammed Tunis said the levy is meant to mobilize the funds required for the accomplishment of the missions of the parliament and other ECOWAS Institutions. He explained that the 0.5% levy, imposed on goods from non-ECOWAS Member States, is intended to cater for around 80% of the Community’s budget revenue. Speaker Tunis expressed his displeasure on Tuesday in Freetown, during the ECOWAS Parliament’s Seminar with the theme, "Involvement of Members of the ECOWAS Parliament in Monitoring the application of the Protocol relating to the Community Levy”. He said: "The theme to which we are invited today, as you have noted, hinges on the implementation of the Protocol relating to the Community Levy. "In this regard...
Post a Comment
Read more