What we expect from Ken Nnamani’s electoral reform committee – Nigerian Government

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, has listed the mandate for the recently constituted Ken Nnamani-led electoral reform committee.

The committee was inaugurated on Tuesday with a primary aim of creating an improved electoral environment for Nigeria.

This goal was spread out among a list of objectives which include: the review of laws impacting elections in Nigeria, namely the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2012.

The committee is also expected to review and recommend the jurisdiction of Nigeria’s Electoral Tribunals.

This is in addition to the review of recent judicial decisions on election petitions as they relate to conflicting judgments, absence of consequential orders and delays in the issuance of Certified True Copies of Judgments.

The committee will then harmonise the Electoral Act with regards to these judgments in order to enhance the electoral process.

It is expected that the committee will review the lessons learnt from the 2015 general elections and make recommendations for the improvement of the electoral system.

The committee is also to identify and assess international best practices on elections and electoral systems relevant to Nigeria’s experience and outline ways to improve the quality and credibility of the nation’s electoral process.

It will also review the extent of implementation of recommendations from the 2008 Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) headed by Justice Mohammad Uwais and advise government on necessary implementation.

The committee’s findings are to be drafted into a bill for consideration and approval by the National Assembly and the President, respectively.

The committee is made up of 25 members, namely: Ken Nnamani as Chairman, Mamman Lawali as Secretary, Muiz Banire, Oluwole Uzzi, Babalola O., Duruaku Chima, Musa Maryam, H.A Tahir, Ike Udunni, Ibrahim  O., Esther Uzoma, Eze Philip, and Bashir Ibrahim.

Others are Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Utum Eteng, Ejike Eze, A. Ude, E. Ifendu, Francis Bullen, Anike Nwoga, Cecilia Adams, Clement Nwankwo, C. Jude, Mohammed Tukur, and Juliet Ibekaku.