The Peoples Democratic Party has described the newly signed Electoral Act as a ‘death knell’ for the All Progressives Congress, saying the bill would end the party’s era of rigging and manipulations during elections.

This is as the main opposition party also congratulated Nigerians, particularly Civil Society Organizations for fighting on its side in putting pressure on the President, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to finally assent to the bill.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, gave the party’s position in a statement on Friday titled, ‘Electoral Act: PDP Congratulates Nigerians… Urges Nigerians to Take Charge of Polling Units in 2023’.

The party also saluted the courage of other opposition members in the National Assembly for standing their ground on the passage of the bill which among other things principally provided for the electronic transmission of election results directly from the polling units.

The statement read, “The newly signed Electoral Act is a death knell for the All Progressives Congress (APC) which thrives in manipulations, ballot box snatching, ballot-box stuffing, and alteration of election results at the collation centers against the expressed Will of the people.

“It is clear that President Buhari and the deflated APC had come to their wits end and bowed to the sustained pressure by the PDP and Nigerians for the entrenchment of processes that can guarantee free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2023.

“The victory by Nigerians in resisting the APC and compelling President Buhari to sign the new Electoral Act clearly signposts the inevitable triumph of the Will and aspiration of the people to kick out the APC through a process that ensures that votes cast at the polling units count.

“The PDP calls on Nigerians not to rest on their oars but to further strengthen their resolve by rallying themselves to take charge of their polling units and ensure that their votes are transparently counted and transmitted in the 2023 general elections.

“Nigerians must note that the APC in its desperation will not give up easily but attempt to device other means to frustrate credible elections in the country.

“Our Party therefore charges Nigerians and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be at alert and resist all shenanigans of the APC ahead of the 2023 elections.

“While commending the International Community for standing on the side of democracy in Nigeria, the PDP counsels President Buhari to further redeem his image by reining in his party members who are reportedly seeking to deploy the instrumentality of violence to frustrate the efforts for free, fair and credible elections in 2023.”

Vital Highlights On The Just Signed/Assented Electoral Act.

1. Early release of election funds to INEC:
Clause 3(3) of the Act provides that all funding required for a general election is released not later than one year before the general elections.
This obviously will help the electoral body to prepare well in advance.

2. Electronic transmission of results:
According to Clause 50 of the Electoral Act, INEC has the authority to decide whether election results are sent electronically or manually.

3. The right to review election results declared under duress:
Clause 65 of the Electoral Act gives INEC the authority to evaluate declarations and returns made under dubious circumstances.
The measure will radically alter the results management process, discouraging politicians from pressuring election workers to declare manufactured election results that can only be disputed in court.

4. Political neutrality:
Clause 8(5) grants political neutrality to INEC personnels. This implies that a politician or member of a political party cannot be an INEC official.
Further, the Clause states that any INEC official with political affiliations commits an offence, and is subject to a fine of N5,000,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both, if convicted.

5. Legislation for electronic voter accreditation:
Clause 47 of the Electoral Act allows voters to be electronically accredited using Smart Card Readers or any other technical equipment determined by INEC.

6. Persons with disability are included:
As Clause 54 (2) stipulates, INEC is required to ensure that persons with disabilities, special needs, and vulnerable people are assisted at polling places by providing appropriate means of communication, such as Braille, large embossed print, electronic devices, sign language interpretation, or, in appropriate cases, off-site voting.

7. Overvoting redefined:
Overvoting happens when the total number of accredited voters in a polling unit exceeds the number of votes cast.

Clause 51 of the Electoral Act stipulates that the “total number of accredited voters” will become a deciding factor in the election’s legality.

8. Early conduct of party primaries and submission of candidates’ list:
Referencing Clause 29(1) of the 2022 Electoral Act, each political party must submit its list of candidates to INEC, who must have arisen from lawful primaries held by the political party, not later than 180 days (6 months) before election day.

9. Early commencement of campaigns:
According to Clause 94 of the Electoral Act, political parties’ public campaigns have been extended from 90 to 150 days before polling day and will finish 24 hours before that day.

10. Candidate substitution in the event of death in an election:
Clause 34 of the Electoral Act 2022 allows political parties to hold primary elections to replace a candidate who dies after the polls have begun but before the final results are announced and a winner is declared.
In the case of legislative elections, the election will be re-run, and a bereaved political party can have a new primary within 14 days to nominate a new candidate.

---- Concerning presidential and governorship elections, the deceased candidate’s running mate will continue the election and select a running mate!

*~ Compiled by Mayor Chibunna - Esedo*