The Independent National Electoral Commission, a permanent body that was established in 1998.

As in other parts of the world, elections in Nigeria are dynamic processes that are steadily evolving. The experience of the 2007 general elections taught INEC invaluable lessons that can only enhance the conduct and standard of elections in the country in the future.

One of the key elements in successful elections is planning. Although the Commission planned comprehensively for the 2007 elections—far more than in any previous elections—the experience reinforces the need for thorough and early planning. Indeed, the Commission intends to move without delay to analyze the hiccups in the process, and commence planning for the next general elections in 2011.

The Commission will seek critical changes in the electoral laws to strengthen its capacity and operational standing. It is expected that the reform will grant INEC a level of autonomy that will free it from delays in the release of funds needed for planning and executing crucial programs, as several aspects in the planning and carrying out of the 2007 elections were hindered by unnecessary delays in the release of funds.

The case for the financial independence of the Commission is underscored by the need to significantly improve on elections logistics. The budgeting and procurement of materials for elections need to be planned in such a way that most of the required materials and infrastructure are secured one year before any election is held.

The Commission intends to change the arrangement whereby electoral materials are produced abroad. This limits the freedom to adapt promptly to any sudden demand for adjustment, as was the case following the Supreme Court ruling to allow Vice President Atiku Abubakar to run as a candidate, just five days before the presidential election. The Commission intends not only to localize the production of sensitive election materials, but also to involve the end-user departments and state offices in doing this. Adequate arrangements will be made to ensure that necessary security standards are maintained.

Innovations such as the customization of ballot papers, which was introduced in the 2007 elections, will be maintained and improved. The introduction of constituency-specific ballot papers succeeded remarkably in reducing rigging across states and local government areas.

Security remains a source of concern. INEC plans to vigorously pursue the initiative to have enforceable laws to prosecute all those apprehended for violence and electoral offenses. The numerous incidents of political intimidation and violence in the period leading up to the elections—including alleged politically-motivated murders—all combined to create an adverse public and international image for the elections.

For reasons that are not clear, the appropriate security agencies failed to effectively deploy their personnel to the more than 120,000 polling units nationwide. It is possible that scarcity of funds contributed to this failure. The Commission will explore means of promoting and utilizing community policing initiatives to ensure local security during future elections.

Monitoring is another area on which the Commission will focus. The monitoring teams deployed across the country to assess, supervise and adjust provisions during the elections performed creditably. The capacity of personnel to handle the task will be strengthened to ensure a more effective and professional performance.

It is of utmost importance that the Commission is given complete freedom in the appointment, discipline and deployment of its staff, including the resident electoral commissioners who actually conduct the elections across the states.

Strengthening the process through which ad hoc personnel are recruited and trained is another critical task in planning for better elections in the future. Training was given reasonable attention in the preparations for the 2007 general elections. In the end, however, their performance fell short of expectation, often because many did not understand such basic things as the layout of the polling stations.

In charting the way forward for future elections, the Commission believes that the time has come for the nation to eliminate paper-based elections. Recommendation to this effect was made in the preparation for the 2007 elections, but did not meet with political support. Incidents during the 2007 elections such as the snatching of ballot boxes and ballot sheets make it necessary for paper-based elections to be re-assessed.

The Commission will once more canvass for the full use of the electronic voting system. With the electronic voter registry now in place, the country should go all the way. There is no doubt that a comprehensive electronic voting system will enhance the standard of elections.