A roundtable discussion between Civil Society Organisations, CSOs in Kano State has listed 10 priority areas for amendment in the electoral reforms being pursued by the National Assembly.
The discussion recommended electronic voting, collation, and transmission of election results, the stiffer penalty for electoral offences including misconduct by security operatives, and diaspora voting rights.
The National Assembly is billed to pass the new electoral law in June this year. Civil society organisations in Kano believe that amending the electoral process should not be left in the hands of politicians alone, and therefore, decided to add their voices to strengthen the process.
Part of the 10 priority areas recommended includes amending section 87 of the electoral to discourage money politics by pegging nomination fees by political parties to between 100,000 naira and 5 million naira for all elective positions.
Early voting for Nigerians on essential duty like reporters to vote ahead of the election and diaspora voting rights are also part of the recommendations.
Promoting gender participation, a stiffer penalty of one million naira fine, or one-year imprisonment for electoral offenders as well as demotion or dismissal of security personnel for misconduct during election duty were other recommendations.