In a recent interview in Abuja, Kuni Tyessiin outlined the collaborative efforts of the Youth-led Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija) and Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), alongside youth and multi-stakeholder groups from all 36 states. Their focus is to assist the National Assembly in tackling the key priorities of Nigerians, particularly in relation to electoral reform.
Tyessiin revealed that they have submitted a comprehensive list of the top five priorities for youth electoral reform. These include the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission, facilitating resolutions for post-election petitions, ensuring timely transmission of election results, reforming the leadership selection process of INEC (the Independent National Electoral Commission), and amending provisions related to continuous voter registration.
He emphasized that the recommendations made to the National Assembly Committees on constitutional review and electoral matters are aimed at enhancing the independence, neutrality, and efficiency of INEC. Additionally, these recommendations address the adjudication process for election petitions, the prosecution of electoral offenses, candidate qualifications, and the reinforcement of political party ideologies through expert reviews and discussions.
During the briefing, Bukola Idowu, Executive Director of KDI, pointed out findings from a nationwide survey revealing that 57 percent of the 4,324 respondents were dissatisfied with the electoral process during the 2023 elections. Furthermore, a striking 94 percent highlighted the urgent need for constitutional and legal reforms to improve the electoral system.
Tyessiin explained that based on this feedback, they distilled a total of 87 recommendations into 35 prioritized proposals, which were later refined down to 13 key recommendations for constitutional amendments during a National Multi-Stakeholder Forum.
Looking ahead, he indicated that KDI, along with its regional partners, plans to launch a youth-led electoral reform advocacy campaign in early 2024. The goal of this initiative is to amplify the voices of young Nigerians in the national conversation on electoral reforms. They aim to gather insights from youth across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to define their electoral reform priorities based on their experiences from the 2023 elections.
“Our survey indicated that 57 percent of respondents were unhappy with the recent electoral process, while 94 percent emphasized the urgent need for reforms,” Tyessiin stated. “We held 12 youth forums that brought together over 400 young people, including leaders from political party youth wings, socio-cultural organizations, transportation unions, entrepreneurs, and other previously marginalized groups to discuss electoral reform.”
He concluded with a strong call to action: “As the National Assembly embarks on this crucial legislative session, we urge them to prioritize the top five electoral reform recommendations from the youth and take swift action to amend the Electoral Act of 2022 and the Constitution.”
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