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WEEK 4
TOPIC: ELECTORAL PROCESS (4) – Electoral Commission and Electoral Officials
CONTENT:
(a) Electoral Commission: Role or duties, problems and organization.
(b) Electoral Officials: Electoral officer, Supervisory Presiding Officer, Polling Clerk and Polling Agent.
Sub-Topic 1: ELECTORAL COMMISSION: ROLE OR DUTIES
Meaning of Electoral Commission: An electoral commission is a politically independent and impartial body charged with the responsibility of conducting free and fair elections in a country. It is generally established by the constitution to guarantee autonomy. Their functions are stipulated in the constitution of the country. In Nigeria presently, it is called Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in 1979 it was called Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO).
Role or Duties of Electoral Commission
- Organises and conducts free and fair elections in a country.
- Delimitation of the country into constituencies.
- Registration of political parties.
- Registration of eligible voters.
- Screening of candidates.
- Appointments and training of electoral officers.
- Provision of adequate electoral materials to voters
- Counting of ballot papers.
- Announcement of election results.
- Provisions of adequate security to voters.
- Education of the electorates.
- Witness on election issues.
- Issuance of certificate of return to winners of elections.
Problems of Electoral Commission
There are problems facing electoral commission in Nigeria like other developing world. Such problems include:
- Political Interference: Since electoral body is always put in place by the government of the day, their independence might not be total because it has to dance to the tunes of its ‘boss’ because it is he who pays the piper that dictates the tune. Some influential politicians many a times want to have their wishes carried out which is against the goal and rules of the establishment of the commission.
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