Politics
By Anthony Isibor.
THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has unveiled a 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, SP, and the 2023 Election Project Plan, EPP.
The Strategic Plan 2022-2026 and the 2023 Election Project Plan was drawn from lessons learned after at thoroughly reviewed the level of implementation of the last plans.
Speaking at the public presentation of the plans in Lagos on Thursday, April 21, 2022, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, noted that the plans are the third in the series of strategic election plans since the era of deliberate planning of elections, which started in 2012
He also said that both plans had to prioritize the institutionalization of the Commission’s processes for the effective delivery of its mandate by focusing on capacity-building, the promotion of professionalism, encouraging greater synergy among departments, improving efficient utilization of resources, increased deployment of technology as well as greater sensitivity to threats to the electoral process as well as election personnel and infrastructure.
He noted that the plans took into considerations of the yearnings of Nigerians to arrive at a reasonable conclusion.
“We have carefully listened to the demands of Nigerians for seamless processes, particularly with regard to enhanced voter education, better distribution of voters to polling units, quality training of election personnel, functionality of electronic devices, improved logistics, prompt commencement of polls, availability of assistive devices for persons with disability at polling units and greater transparency in result management.
“We are also aware of the security challenges and their impact on the electoral process.
“We will continue to engage early and intensely with the security agencies to ensure the safety of our personnel and materials, accredited observers and the media and, above all, the voters. Clearly, these are challenging times, but we are determined that election must hold in 2023. However, this is a shared responsibility.
These concerns, according to him, are reflected in the Plan’s five strategic objectives, each of which identified several key actions, key activities and key outcomes that constitute a broad guide to the vision of the Commission to provide electoral operations, systems and infrastructure to support the delivery of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.
“The Plan also forms the basis for the Election Project Plan, which focuses on five key objectives identified by the Commission as critical for the successful conduct of the 2023 General Election.
Yakubu also expressed satisfaction that the plans have been finalised 10 months ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“To do this, the Commission relies on three key elements. First is the knowledge and experience gathered from the conduct of previous elections. Second is the use of innovations to enhance electoral integrity and improve voter experience. Third is the institutionalization of the culture of planning.
“These elements have guided the Commission through three successive general and several off-cycle and bye elections. Consequently, our elections are getting better, electoral outcomes less contentious, and voter experience of the electoral system increasingly more participatory and inclusive,” he said.
AI.
Apr. 23, 2022 @ 12:04 GMT
Tags: INEC Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
