Recall Elections More Expensive Than Constituency Polls – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that conducting a recall election is more expensive than organizing a constituency election. This was disclosed by Mohammed Kunna, Special Adviser to the INEC Chairman, during an online discussion on the 2024 INEC Regulation and Guidelines for Recall.

Speaking during the event, which was hosted on the social media platform X, Kunna explained that a recall election involves multiple stages, making it as complex as conducting three constituency elections. He outlined that once a recall petition is submitted and confirmed to meet legal requirements, INEC must first conduct a verification exercise at the affected polling units. This process requires the use of the Bi-Modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to authenticate the signatures of those who signed the petition.

For a recall to proceed, at least 50 percent plus one of the registered voters in the constituency must support the petition. If this threshold is met, INEC then conducts a referendum where voters decide through a yes or no vote. Kunna emphasized that the process demands significant resources, including mobilizing staff, deploying election materials, and ensuring logistical arrangements similar to those required for three senatorial district elections.

Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, also acknowledged the high cost but noted that the commission is bound by legal provisions. He stated that INEC’s regulations and the Electoral Act outline the steps for a recall election, including the requirement that petitioners submit signatures from at least half of the constituency’s registered voters. Once received, INEC carries out preliminary checks before verifying the signatures. The affected lawmaker is also informed and has the right to deploy agents to monitor the process.

Addressing the issue of online voting, Oyekanmi clarified that Nigeria’s Constitution does not currently permit INEC to conduct electronic voting.