Former National Chairman Of The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Peter Ameh, Has Warned Against Proposals To Allow Inmates To Participate In Nigeria’s Elections, Cautioning That It Could Create “A New Criminal Hub For Electoral Malpractices.”
Speaking On The Weekend Show Over The Weekend, Ameh Noted That The Current Conditions In Nigeria’s Correctional Centres Make Inmates Highly Susceptible To Manipulation By Prison Officials And Political Actors.
He Emphasised That Nigeria Should Prioritise Diaspora Voting Before Considering Prisoners’ Participation, Highlighting That Nigerians Abroad Remain Deeply Connected To National Affairs While Contributing Significantly Through Remittances To The Economy.
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Ameh Further Called For Comprehensive Electoral Reforms, Including Unbundling The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) To Enhance Its Independence, Conducting All Elections On A Single Day To Reduce Costs, And Mandating Electronic Transmission Of Results.
He Warned, “We Must Get Our Priorities Right. Prison Voting, Without Structural Reforms, Will Only Deepen Manipulation Instead Of Strengthening Democracy.”
READ MORE:We’re Working With NASS To Enable Diaspora Voting – APC Chairman
According To Ameh, “Allowing Them To Vote Under These Conditions Would Hand Undue Influence To State Authorities Who Control Prisons.”
He Also Criticised The Structure Of INEC, Arguing That Political Appointees With Close Ties To The Ruling Elite Undermine Its Independence. “It Is Unfair For A President Who Will Be A Contestant In An Election To Appoint The Referee Of That Same Election. This Is Why INEC Has Continued To Lose Public Trust,” He Noted.
To Address This, Ameh Recommended That The Appointment Of INEC Chairpersons And Commissioners Be Subjected To Broader Scrutiny By The National Assembly, Rather Than Being Solely At The Discretion Of The President.
On The Issue Of Electronic Voting, He Advocated That Mandatory Electronic Transmission Of Results Through The INEC Result Viewing (IReV) Portal Should Be Legally Enshrined To Restore Public Confidence In The Electoral Process.
Meanwhile, The Nigerian Electoral Reform Coalition (NERCO) Has Launched A Nationwide Campaign Engaging Lawmakers, Civil Society Organisations, And Citizens With What It Calls A “People’s Bill” — A Comprehensive Set Of Proposals Aimed At Closing Loopholes In Nigeria’s Electoral System And Ensuring Accountability At Every Level.
