The Chief Observer, European Union (EU) Election observation Mission (EOM), Ms Marie Arena, has described the 2022 Electoral Act as a great achievement for deepening of Nigeria electoral process.
Arena said this at a news conference on Friday in Abuja, while presenting the mission’s final report on Nigeria’s 2019 General Elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the recommendations offered by the 2019 EU EOM an EU Election Fellow-up Mission (EFM) were deployed to Nigeria from Feb. 20, to March 5.
The EFM was led by Arena, member of the European Parliament and the Chief Observer of 2019 EU EOM. The main objectives were to assess the implementation of the EU recommendations and to discuss further reform.
Arena said that EU election follow up mission noted progress with the new law and INEC reforms but also stressed the need for further actions.
She said that the European Union Election Follow-up Mission to Nigeria released its report on the status of implementation of the 30 recommendations made by the 2019 EU Election Observation Mission (EOM).
Also, that the EU Election Follow-up Mission was headed by Maria Arena, Member of the European Parliament and former Chief Observer in 2019.
The Election Follow up Mission met with a range of stakeholders to the electoral process and looked at the recently approved new electoral act.
The 2022 Election Follow-up Mission report noted progress in implementation of the recommendations offered by the 2019 EU EOM.
This including some priority recommendations, particularly with the passing of the new electoral act and some actions by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to her, 30 recommendations, at this time 11 can be considered partially implemented and two as implemented.
The EFM also noted that there had been a lack of progress on other recommendations and challenges continue going forward with implementation.
“The passing of the Electoral Act 2022 is a great achievement and it is very impressive, how the National Assembly, INEC and civil society worked together on this INEC reforms are also impressive.
“Particularly, the uploading of polling unit results forms, and we look forward to seeing more positive developments.
“We think it’s crucial that INEC’s independence is supported including in the prompt appointment to the upcoming vacancies for Resident Electoral Commissioners. INEC needs to improve its operational delivery capacity.
“We also think that INEC needs to do a comprehensive lessons learned exercise and undertake an independent evaluation so that the challenges and risks in the use of BVAS can be addressed before the general elections.
“These actions and others detailed in our report, including in regard to media and participation of women will help make real the new ambitions established in the electoral act 2022 and serve the wider democratic rights of citizens,” she said.
Arena, however, expressed EU’s disappointment over lack of tangible action with regard to women’s political participation in the Act.
“We saw on Tuesday that the National Assembly rejected bills for increasing opportunities for women in politics.
“Thus no legislative measures have been taken for reserved seats or for parties to have internal regulations promoting women in their structures or as candidates,” she said.
