The Youth-led Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija) and Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), along with various youth and multi-stakeholder allies from across Nigeria’s 36 states, have pledged to support the National Assembly in addressing key electoral reform priorities for Nigerians.
During a recent briefing in Abuja, KDI’s Executive Director, Bukola Idowu, revealed that five primary electoral reform priorities have been submitted to the National Assembly.
These include the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission, post-election petition resolutions, the timely transmission of election results, reforms in the INEC leadership selection process, and amendments to continuous voter registration provisions.
Idowu emphasised the importance of independence, neutrality, and efficiency for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as effective adjudication of election petitions and prosecution of electoral offences.
He highlighted findings from a nationwide survey indicating that 57% of 4,324 respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the electoral process in the 2023 elections, while 94% called for urgent constitutional and legal reforms.
He noted that the advocacy initiative, launched in early 2024, aimed to amplify the voices of young Nigerians in the national dialogue on electoral reforms. The initiative gathered input from youths across the country’s six geopolitical zones, identifying their priorities based on lessons learnt from the last elections.
Idowu stated, “Through this process, we hosted 12 youth forums, engaging over 400 young people, including political party youth leaders and social-cultural organisations, to include groups previously excluded from electoral reform conversations.”
He concluded by urging the National Assembly to prioritise the five key electoral reform recommendations and to expedite amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 and the Constitution as they resume their legislative session.
