×

Group Advises INEC To Emulate Brazilian Election Management

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been advised to emulate the Brazilian Election Management’s seamless conduct of the nation’s election and replicate same in … Continue reading Group Advises INEC To Emulate Brazilian Election Management


INEC
File photo: INEC Former Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega

INECThe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been advised to emulate the Brazilian Election Management’s seamless conduct of the nation’s election and replicate same in the conduct of elections in Nigeria.

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, which gave the advice on Tuesday, said that the smooth management and conduct of Brazil’s October 4 general elections was something the INEC could learn from for the smooth conduct of the 2015 general election.

The Brazilian Election Management was able to conduct elections for the President, State Governors, National Congress and state legislators in one day.

In the said election more than 80% of Brazil’s 142, 822, 046 registered voters voted, registering the highest voter turnout in any liberal democracy in recent times. The figures were; Null Votes – 6,678,580, Blank Votes – 4,420,488 and Total Valid Votes – 104,023,543.

“Our interest was elicited because the results were out in less than 48 hours and up to date no Election Tribunal was set up, all the presidential candidates agreed to the 26 October run-off between Dilma Rousseff of Workers Party (PT) that polled 43,267,668 votes making 41.59% and Aecio Neves of Party of Brazilian Social Democracy (PSDB) that polled 34,897,211 votes making 33.5%,” the group said.

The members of the group further pointed out that the Electronic Voting and E-Card reader mechanism were adopted in the conduct of the general elections.

They emphasised that Nigeria, like Brazil, is multi-cultural, heterogeneous, literate and illiterate, rural and urban and among the 10 most populated countries on earth.

The CNPP, therefore, urged Professor Attahiru Jega led electoral body to study the procedure, processes, mechanisms and technology adopted by the Brazilian Election Management for a successful conduct of Nigeria’s general elections.

“For it is our considered view that the transparency, fairness and credibility of the conduct of elections reinforces the trust and confidence of the electorate; hence maximising their electoral worth and value. This is what led to large turnout of voters in Brazil,” the group explained.