INEC Preparedness, Challenges and Public Expectations for - PowerPoint Presentation

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INEC Preparedness, Challenges and Public Expectations for a Peaceful 2015 Elections in Nigeria

Abubakar Momoh

Director-General

The Electoral Institute, Abuja

amomoh2002@yahoo.com

Presented at WANEP

Staeholders

Consultative Meeting on

Peaceful Elections in Nigeria, March 12-13, 2014Slide2

Lessons Learnt from 2011 General ElectionsRetreats on Lessons learntPost Election AuditRegistration and Election Review Committee (RERC)Staff Audit by PriceWaterHouseRestructuring of TEIDirectorates and Departments reorganised and made more effectiveValues and Electoral integrityResult-based Civic and voter EducationImpact evaluationElectoral integrity. Collective ownership, civic dutySlide3

INEC’s PreparednessNew focus: policy, plan and restructuringLong term planning : Strategic plan and work plan (2012-2016)Connecting implementation strategy to relevant Departments and unitsPolicy: Elections Management System (EMS)Plan: Elections Project Plan (EPP)

Restructuring

of TEI

Introduction of AFIS

Automated CVR and PVC

Introduction of Card Readers for PVC

Discarding the Use of Addendum Register

Customising results sheets to

PUs

Overhauling training methodology

Delimitation of constituencies

Improving on logistics and security

Updating and warehousing databank of ad-hoc staff

High Premium Insurance for both permanent and Ad-hoc staff

Election

Time-Table

out well on time, unlike in the pastSlide4

7 Principal Business Areas (PBAs)Election Day Logistics (EDL)Election Day Training (EDT)Election Staff Management (ESM)Election Day Support (EDS)Political Party & Candidate Management (PPM)Continuous Voter Registration (CVR)Election Day Procurement (EDP)Slide5

Public ExpectationsBuilding Political TrustTransition from Political Elite to Political ClassIssue-based campaignsFree, fair and credible ElectionsDelivery and distribution of sensitive materials on timeAdequate security at Polling UnitsPayment of allowances and entitlements of ad-hoc staffNon-partisanship of security personnel and civil conductZero tolerance for violenceInternal party democracySlide6

ChallengesKey challenge: (i) funding (ii) rhetorics of politicians overheat the polity(iii) Election Day logistical challenges (iv) Security for PUs (v) topography-creeks and inaccessible areasLogistics and Deployment of personnel on election Day750,000 Ad-hoc staff to be trained, certified online and used in 2015 ElectionsInvestigative and prosecutory role of the PoliceAFIS caught 93,000 fake voters in Anambra Gubernatorial electionsOver 800,000 citizens caught in multiple registration, NEC has no funds and capacity to prosecuteRhetorics of politicians overheat the polityLogistical challenge on Election daySecurity in Electoral process, campaign rallies and on Election DaySlide7

The Security ChallengePost-Election Violence often worseYouth violence and thuggery-Sara suka (Bauchi); Yan daba(Kano) Boko Haram (NE), ECOWAS Boys (Ogun) Area Boys (Lagos), Dei Well & Dei Gbam (Rivers and Bayelsa), Agboole Boys (Ondo)Infrastructure of violence-light weapons, economic hardshipInter Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), coordination and cooperation-bottom up in defining agendaEarly warning signs-need to monitor and identify conflict triggers and conflict indicators-early warning managementElectoral Risk Management (ERM) and Mapping of Electoral Risks-designing an effective tool-AU/I-IDEAElectoral Alternative Dispute Resolution (EADR)-for mediating & resolving electoral complaints and disputes especially within political partiesPolitics as warfareSlide8

Stakeholders Meetings and SensitisationIPAC and INEC quarterly meetings and interactionPolicy validation meetings with CSOs and relevant stakeholdersIssue-focused debriefing and interaction with mediaMedia sensitisation on key issues relating to electionsINEC hour on AIT every ThursdaySlide9

Peace Education and sundry issuesPeace Education as a new paradigm: The peace education is founded on the principle that people and problems should be approached positively and not negativelyCivic education, Voter information, and voter educationNew methodology for voter education:by TEI Result-based Voter Education by TEI and VEP Dept

INEC

Communication Policy: information management and make or mar an election e.g. Anambra Gubernatorial Election

Vote to score, Voters Club

Alternative means of reaching ruralites and urban youth-popular culture

Recruitment and Training for the right calibre of citizens for elections

Training

for CSOs and

Media

Training for political parties/candidates

INEC’s role is technical and NOT political-hence peace elections is the mandate of ALL

stakeholders

Need for collective ownership of the Electoral project