By George Mgbeleke,Abuja

Ahead of the 2027 general election, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the ongoing review of the electoral legal framework to ensure timely implementation of reforms ahead of future elections.

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Prof. Yakubu made the appeal during his opening remarks at a two-day retreat with the Joint Committee of the National Assembly on Electoral Matters, held at the Marriott Hotel, Lagos, from Monday, April 28, to Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

Reflecting on past electoral reforms, the INEC Chairman recalled a similar retreat held five years ago in March 2020, which contributed significantly to the repeal and re-enactment of the Electoral Act 2010, culminating in the current Electoral Act 2022.

He emphasized the importance of such retreats, noting that they offer a deeper and more focused engagement on electoral matters than conventional public hearings.

“For us in INEC, the coming together of lawmakers, who also have field experience as practising politicians, and the Commission as the election management body, is a positive development for electoral reform in Nigeria,” Yakubu stated.

Highlighting one of the major gains from previous reforms, the INEC boss pointed to the amendment that extended the period between party primaries and the general election to 180 days.

This change, he said, “addressed persistent logistical challenges that had led to election postponements in the past

Under the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), the Commission had just 60 days between the conclusion of party primaries and the conduct of the general election. This time constraint severely impacted our logistics, especially the production and delivery of sensitive materials such as ballot papers and result sheets,” he explained.”

Yakubu disclosed that INEC had initially requested a full year between primaries and elections but eventually accepted the 180-day provision agreed by lawmakers. The adjustment, he affirmed, “was pivotal to the successful and timely conduct of the 2023 General Election, which, for the first time in three electoral cycles, was not postponed due to logistical challenges.”

Additionally, the INEC Chairman celebrated another milestone achieved during the 2023 elections: the complete localization of ballot paper and result sheet production. “For the first time since the restoration of democracy in 1999, not a single sheet of paper for the 2023 General Election was printed outside Nigeria. Everything was done within the country, earning the Commission commendation from the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON),” Yakubu noted with pride.

Under the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), the Commission had just 60 days between the conclusion of party primaries and the conduct of the general election. This time constraint severely impacted our logistics, especially the production and delivery of sensitive materials such as ballot papers and result sheets,” he explained.

Yakubu disclosed that INEC had initially requested a full year between primaries and elections but eventually accepted the 180-day provision agreed by lawmakers. The adjustment, he affirmed,” was pivotal to the successful and timely conduct of the 2023 General Election, which, for the first time in three electoral cycles, was not postponed due to logistical challenges.”

Additionally, the INEC Chairman celebrated another milestone achieved during the 2023 elections: the complete localization of ballot paper and result sheet production. “For the first time since the restoration of democracy in 1999, not a single sheet of paper for the 2023 General Election was printed outside Nigeria. Everything was done within the country, earning the Commission commendation from the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON),” Yakubu noted with pride.

Continuing the Chairman noted that in its recent submission on electoral reforms, INEC advocated for the amendment of Sections 77(2), 117(1), 132(5), and 178(5) of the 1999 Constitution to provide legal backing for diaspora, inmates, and early voting for essential service workers.

According to the commission, Nigerians working overseas, election personnel on duty during polls, and citizens incarcerated but not convicted of crimes should not be disenfranchised.

Allowing them to vote, the Commission argued, would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and broaden civic participation.

Interestingly,democracies increasingly recognizes the voting rights of citizens living abroad, stressing that Nigeria must not be left behind.

The call is part of broader efforts to reform the electoral framework following lessons from the 2023 general election. “The right to vote is fundamental,” the Commission said, urging lawmakers to expedite the necessary constitutional amendments to make out-of-country voting a reality by future election cycles.

There have been a growing movement for the inclusion of Nigeria’s diaspora community in the country’s electoral process, with advocates arguing that millions of citizens abroad deserve the right to vote.