T0wards Nigeria’s 2015 Elections
By
Attahiru M. Jega, OFR
Chairman INEC, Nigeria
Outline
2
 General Introduction
 Nigeria: Basic Statistics
 2011 General Elections
 Subsequent Governorship Elections
 Subsequent Bye-Elections / Re-run Elections
 Accomplishments
 Challenges
 Lessons Learnt
13/4/2015
Outline …
3
 Preparations for 2015
 Retreats
 Knowledge-Sharing
Conference
 Strategic
Planning
 Continuous Voter Registration
 Constituency Delimitation
 Review of Polling Units
 Conclusion
13/4/2015
Nigeria: Basic Statistics
4
 Estimated Population (2011)








167.913 mil
Registered Voters
73.528 mil
States
36 (+FCT)
Local Govt. Areas (LGAs)
774
Registration Areas (Wards) 8,809
Polling Units
119,973
Senatorial Districts
109
Federal Constituencies
360
State Constituencies
990
13/4/2015
2011 General Elections
5
 As Nigeria prepared for the 2011 general elections,
doubts pervaded the atmosphere on whether Nigeria
would get it right
 Most analysts thought it would be the same story of
repeated failure
 While it was not perfect, INEC has raised the bar
 INEC now strives to make 2015 substantially much
better than 2011, by drawing lessons and factoring
them into our preparations
13/4/2015
2011 General Elections…
6
 April
9:
National Assembly Elections
 April 16:
Presidential Election
 April 26:
Governorship /State
Legislative Elections
 April 28:
Kaduna and Bauchi
Gov./Legislative Elections
 May 5: Imo Governorship Election
13/4/2015
Subsequent Governorship Elections
7
• December 4, 2011
• January 14, 2012
• February 8, 2012
• February 18, 2012
• February 25, 2012
• March 31, 2012
• July 14, 29012
• October 30, 2012
Kogi State
Adamawa State
Bayelsa State
Sokoto State
Cross River State
Kebbi State
Edo State
Ondo State
13/4/2015
Bye/ Re-Run Elections
8
 Since April/May 2011, we have conducted 48
Bye/Re-run elections:
 2011
9
 2012
39
13/4/2015
Challenges
9
 Tight time-frame
 Amendment to the Legal framework
 Compilation of a Biometric based Register of Voters
 Operational and logistics preparations
 Generating trust and confidence in the electoral
process
 Dealing with politicians with a ‘do-or-die’ mindset
13/4/2015
Accomplishments
10
• Compilation of a Biometric Register of Voters
• General improvements recorded, especially in
Operations and logistics
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Timely arrival of election materials
Early opening of Polling Units
Early commencement of Accreditation
Early commencement of voting
Timely result collation and declaration of results
Improvements in securing the environment for elections
Peaceful conduct and reduced conflicts
Much less no. of fraudulent cases recorded
13/4/2015
Accomplishments…
11






REMOBS
Decentralized distribution of materials
Serial numbering, security features and colour coding of ballot
papers
Serial numbering of Ballot Boxes
Use of NYSC members and FTEI students as Ad hoc staff
Use of VCs, Professors as Collation Officers and Returning
Officers
13/4/2015
Accomplishments…
12
 Closer
monitoring and supervision by
RECs and National Commissioners
 Improved security through the work of
ICCES
 Customized Result Sheets
 Electronic Collation at the State, LGA and
RA levels
13/4/2015
Accomplishments…
13
 Revival of trust and confidence in the Commission
 Increased / Improved participation of CSOs and
NGOs in voter education and election Observation
 Prosecution of Electoral offenders
 Reduced litigation and more favourable legal
judgements
13/4/2015
Lessons learnt
14
 Lessons learnt for the future include:
 Commence early preparations to reduce pressure
 Improve stakeholder consultations, especially political parties
 Increase civic and voter education
 Refine and improve use of technology in VR and accreditation
 Improve training of electoral officials
 Increase transparency and integrity of the electoral process
 Improve institutional efficiency and effectiveness
13/4/2015
Preparations for the 2015 Elections
15
Retreats for Internal Assessment
- with Electoral Officers
- With Resident Electoral Commissioners
Independent Studies / Reports
- Registration and Election Review
Committee (RERC) Report
- PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) Report
13/4/2015
Preparations…
16
 Knowledge Sharing Conference for African
EMBs
•
•
•
Held in March 26-27, 2012
Attended by 22 EMB Chairpersons/representatives from
across Africa
Shared experiences, discussed common concerns and
challenges and made recommendations on how to continue to
improve effective and efficient delivery of elections on the
continent
13/4/2015
Preparations…
17
•
•
Agreed on the need for follow-up meetings
and experience-sharing and learning from
one another at several levels
Next steps may include:
– Thematic conferences
– Working groups on identified issues (e.g.
pol party and campaign financing)
– Short-term staff visits / exchanges
– Sharing of resources
13/4/2015
Preparations…
18
• Completion of Strategic Plan
Supported by UNDP/Joint-Donor Basket Fund
• Facilitated by a Consultant
• Driven by an in-house Committee
• The details of the SP have been discussed and are being
finalized
• A Stakeholder Validation Conference has been scheduled
for December
• Restructuring and Reorganization
• Objective is to have a trim, efficient and effective
institution for better service delivery, with a professional
cadre of staff
• It’s been finalized and implementation to be completed
by March of 2013
•
13/4/2015
Preparations…
19
 Preparations for Constituency delimitation
 Preparations for Continuous Voter Registration
 Revision of Regulations on Party and Campaign
Finances
 Engagement with the Legislature on amendments to
the legal framework for elections
13/4/2015
Conclusion
20
 INEC raised the bar on conduct of elections in
Nigeria in April/May 2011
 Challenges still remain; but progress is being made
to address the challenges
 Biggest challenge: To prevent regression and
consolidate the gains
 We are learning from other EMBs,
adopting/adapting good practices and striving to
make 2015 elections much better than the 2011
elections
13/4/2015
Conclusion…
21
 We have finalized a Strategic Plan and are
proceeding with restructuring and reorganization to
make INEC one of the best EMBs in Africa by 2015
 We are preparing to do Constituency Delimitation
and Continuous Voters Registration within the next
18 months
 We expect further raise the bar and make the 2015
elections much more credible and peaceful than the
2011 elections
13/4/2015
Conclusion…
22
 We hope to continue to attract and enjoy the trust,
confidence and support of all critical stakeholders at
home and abroad towards a successful, free, fair,
credible and peaceful elections in in Nigeria in 2015.
 We shall not rest on our oars until this is attained
13/4/2015
23
Thank You!
13/4/2015
24
13/4/2015