Commonwealth Organ Elects Nigeria To Steering Committee

Source: thewillnigeria.com
Click for Full Image Size
INEC CHAIRMAN, PROFESSOR ATTAHIRU JEGA

SAN FRANCISCO, July 02, (THEWILL) - The Commonwealth Electoral Network (CEN), an organ established by The Commonwealth to promote global best practices in elections, has elected Nigeria to its steering committee.


Nigeria was named alongside South Africa and Kenya to represent Africa in the eight-man committee chaired by Canada. Other members of the committee include Australia, Jamaica and India. The new committee members replace Ghana, Bangladesh and Zambia whose two-year tenure in the apex organ just expired. Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega represent the country in the steering committee.


The change of guard was announced at the just-ended biennial conference of the CEN in Toronto, Canada, where Professor Jega said INEC would ensure 100 per cent voter authentication in the 2015 general elections to prevent multiple voting.

At the conference, chairman of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan handed over to the chief electoral officer, Elections Canada, Mr. Marc Mayrand, as chair of the CEN Steering Committee.


The Toronto conference featured plenary sessions and breakout group meetings, in one of which the INEC Chairman gave a lead presentation on the role of Information Technology in voter registration.

He said with the chip-embedded permanent voter cards that INEC is working on issuing to voters, the Commission would ensure 100 per cent voter authentication in the 2015 elections. This will, in effect, prevent multiple voting and further guarantee the credibility of the elections.