• The Membership Club
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • 2023 Elections
    • Presidential
    • Gubernatorial
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
    • Gender
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
    • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • LIVE VIDEO
  • Home
  • 2023 Elections
    • Presidential
    • Gubernatorial
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
    • Gender
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
    • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • LIVE VIDEO
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
The Netherlands Consulate-General, Micheal Deelen giving his remarks

The Netherlands Consulate-General, Micheal Deelen giving his remarks

2023: Dutch official recommends stiffer penalties for electoral offenders

The stakeholders also recommended the need to investigate election financing in Nigeria and how it relates to vote-trading ahead of the 2023 elections.

byMariam Ileyemi
December 16, 2022
Reading Time: 3 mins read
1

The Netherlands Consulate-General in Lagos, Micheal Deelen, has said the best way to ensure Nigeria attains a fully democratic system is with economic development

The official added that in his home country, politicians who infringe on human rights, election fraud and violence are put on a sanction list which may include their accounts being frozen and assets seized.

Mr Deelan spoke on Thursday in Lagos at an interactive session with media, civil society and key state actors to discuss issues affecting Nigeria’s election processes.

The event, which was organised by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre, was also attended by a delegation from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry said it is in the country as an advanced team of observers ahead of the general elections in 2023.

Other stakeholders in attendance at the forum included the Executive Director of Enough is Enough (EIE), a civil society organisation, Yemi Adamolekun; Director of Programmes at the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC), Mary George, and representatives of Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), PREMIUM TIMES, Daily Trust, International Press Centre (IPC), TheCable, among others.

They deliberated on issues of electoral integrity, vote buying, INEC preparations, and civic space, among others.

Speaking at the forum, Mr Deelan said “next year, the European Union would send down election observers to Nigeria to participate in the EU election monitoring activities”, and pledged that there would be a collaboration with stakeholders to address some of the issues raised at the gathering.

TEXEM Advert
Cross section of stakeholders and the delegation from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the interactive session organised by HEDA Resource Centre
Cross section of stakeholders and the delegation from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the interactive session organised by HEDA Resource Centre

Issues raised

The stakeholders suggested the need for the reform of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and civic education, particularly at the grassroots.

They also pointed out how the lack of implementation of the dictates of the electoral law is affecting the electoral processes.

Participants also called for gender inclusion in the electoral process, and the inclusion of people with disabilities and young people who are vulnerable to disenfranchisement.

The stakeholders also recommended the need to investigate election financing in Nigeria and how it relates to vote trading ahead of the 2023 elections.

Challenges

In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of HEDA Resource Centre, Sulaimon Arigbabu, noted that as part of the core mandates in ensuring good governance in Nigeria, HEDA has consistently convened stakeholders in the Anti-Corruption Situation Room (ACSR) to discuss issues affecting Nigeria’s electoral processes and how these issues could be addressed.

Mr Arigbabu said some of the issues and recommendations raised before the 2019 elections for instance informed policy changes but “many of the challenges highlighted pre and post-2019 elections are still experienced today.”

READ ALSO: Shell speaks on Dutch court judgement ordering Niger Delta compensation


He added that “issues of vote-trading are still being experienced as evident from recent elections including the Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial elections, and the lack of political will to prosecute offenders, lack of accountability on campaign financing, and the nagging issue of voter apathy among others are still posing challenges to the sanctity of elections in Nigeria”.

Kogi AD

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

“As a further follow-up on these issues, we convened another ACSR on 24 November, in Abuja, focusing on the 2023 general elections, in partnership with WARDC and the HRC and indeed with the Support of the MacArthur Foundation,” he said.

HEDA’s efforts

Also speaking on the activities of HEDA, Mr Arigbabu noted that the organisation has been at the forefront of campaigning for electoral reforms as well as election observation and monitoring.

“We have worked with both state and non-state actors on this subject matter including the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Nigeria’s leading anti-graft agency, the EFCC, among others,” he said.

He recalled that in the build-up to the last general elections, HEDA convened stakeholders in the 8th Anti-Corruption Situation Room (ACSR) to discuss issues affecting Nigeria’s electoral processes and how these issues could be addressed ahead of the 2019 elections.

He noted that some of the observed issues include the prevalence of vote trading, excessive campaign spending in contravention of the Electoral Act; financial inducement for decamping; huge financial deployment for media manipulation and propaganda for phoney projections in favour of candidates; among others.

While some of the issues and the recommendations from the sessions informed policy change addressed before the 2019 elections, he noted that the unaddressed ones further informed the recommendations of the post-election Situation Room, the 9th ACSR held in April 2019 as a follow-up.

“Between 2019 and now, some of these recommendations have translated into policies. For instance, a new electoral Act has been enacted and also by the Act, BVAS and electronic transmission of the votes and related efforts at curbing rigging have been enabled,” he added.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Print

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate





TEXT AD: Call Willie - +2348098788999






PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

The future of History in Nigeria, By Majeed Dahiru

Next Post

Lagos Red Line 85 per cent ready – Lawmaker

Mariam Ileyemi

Mariam Ileyemi

More News

Edozie Njoku [PHOTO: NAN]

Supreme Court upholds Edozie Njoku as APGA National Chairman

March 25, 2023
Former Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema

Suspension: Ex-Katsina gov, Ibrahim Shema, writes Ayu, threatens to quit PDP

March 24, 2023
Russian President, Vladmir Putin

Putin’s visit a headache for South African govt

March 24, 2023
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola

Supreme Court denies report of CJN meeting with Tinubu in London

March 24, 2023
Cfa Notes (PHOTO CREDIT: Dreamstime.com)

Central African countries want to dump colonial currency

March 24, 2023

Bus/Train Accident: 77 passengers discharged from Lagos hospitals — Sanwo-Olu

March 24, 2023
Read All Comment

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game

Projects & Partnerships

  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • Parliament Watch
  • Panama Papers
  • AGAHRIN
  • #PandoraPapers
  • Paradise Papers
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2023 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • 2023 Elections
    • Presidential & NASS
    • Gubernatorial & State House
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Gender
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • DONATE
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Dubawa NG
  • Careers
  • Digital Store
  • Contact Us

All content is Copyrighted © 2023 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist