Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, representing Katsina Central Senatorial District, has advocated for the adoption of early voting in Nigeria, stating that it will address major challenges in the country’s electoral process and ensure greater inclusivity and credibility.
The senator made this known during an advocacy visit to the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General O.O. Nafiu, at the NYSC headquarters in Abuja.
Yar’Adua, who sponsored a bill to amend the Electoral Act, emphasized that early voting will prevent the disenfranchisement of over a million Nigerians, including ad-hoc staff and essential workers, who are often unable to vote on election day due to national duties.
“Every election year, Nigeria loses a significant number of votes because ad-hoc staff, many of whom are NYSC members, and other essential workers are denied the chance to vote,” the senator said. “This bill proposes that early voting be held at least seven days before the general election to accommodate all eligible voters.”
Key Provisions of the Bill:
Eligibility and Registration: Eligible individuals, including security personnel, electoral officials, and others designated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), must apply for early voting at least 30 days before the proposed date.
Implementation and Voting Procedure: INEC will designate early voting centers, and early voting will take place not more than seven days before the general election.
Senator Yar’Adua called on stakeholders across the electoral process to support the bill and ensure it passes through its third reading and becomes law.
“Early voting is already being practiced in most developed countries and in African nations such as South Africa and Ghana. As the giant of Africa, Nigeria must also adopt this progressive step,” he added.
Support from Civil Society and NYSC
Reacting to the bill, Mr. Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, commended the initiative.
“I’m not a member of the National Assembly, but I am invested in the credibility of Nigeria’s elections. When elections go well, INEC gets the praise. But when things go wrong, NYSC members are often blamed, even though they are denied the opportunity to vote due to their assignments,” Itodo said.
He applauded Senator Yar’Adua for his research and commitment to electoral inclusivity.
In support of the bill, Brigadier General O.O. Nafiu declared the proposal as essential for NYSC members.
READ ALSO: EcoSmart Club Trains 52 Oyo Teachers to Lead Nigeria’s Green Transition
“More than 50 percent of ad-hoc staff during elections are NYSC members. This bill is long overdue and will address the long-standing disenfranchisement of corps members,” he stated.
The NYSC DG stressed that elections are central to national development and called for equal voting opportunities for all eligible Nigerians.
