INEC will use 2022 Electoral Act if amendment delays persist - Amupitan

Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent NationalElectoral Commission (INEC), says the commission will have to use extant lawsif the Electoral Act amendment is delayed any further. The INEC chairman spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at the regularquarterly consultative meeting of the commission with the civil societyorganisations (CSOs). Amupitan said early amendment of the Electoral Act iscritical in the commission’s preparations for the 2027 general election, therelease of the timetable and the schedule of activities for the polls. He said although INEC had already concluded the timetablefor the 2027 general elections, it was still awaiting the conclusion of theamendment of the Electoral Act. “Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, empowers thecommission to issue a notice of election not later than 360 days before thedate of the poll,” he said. “While the National Assembly is currently working onamendments to the Electoral Act, the commission has made its submission asrequired. We are mindful of the growing public interest and anticipationsurrounding the release of the timetable. “We wish to assure political parties and the Nigerian publicthat the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general electionswill be released in full compliance with the constitution of the FederalRepublic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and the Electoral Act, 2022.” Amupitan also said INEC was seeking the support of CSOs inurging the national assembly to “expedite action on the ongoing amendment ofthe Electoral Act”. “We have hesitated a little bit because we have thetimetable already, but there are some proposed amendments that will affect thetimetable. But, if the process is delayed any further, we may have to go to theextant laws,” he said. On the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area councilelections, Amupitan said INEC would hold a mock accreditation on February 7 in289 selected polling units across the six area councils. He said 83 domestic and five foreign observers had beenaccredited for the polls, which would involve 1,680,315 registered votersacross 2,822 polling units in the six area councils of the FCT. The INEC chairman also said the election would be contestedby 570 candidates in 68 constituencies for the positions of chairmen andvice-chairmen, and 62 councillors made up of 10 wards each for five areacouncils and 12 wards for the Abuja municipal area council. He urged the CSOs to help mobilise FCT residents to go outand collect their permanent voter cards (PVCs) in the ongoing distribution thatwould end on February 10 in FCT.

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