It is an independent body set up by the constitution to organize and conduct election in a state.
Functions of Electoral Commission
1. DELIMINATION OF THE CONSTITUENCY: One of the functions of electoral commission is to divide the Country into electoral districts called constituency. The electoral district is called a ward at the local government election while it is called a constituency at the state or federal election. There are two types of constituency. These are single member and multi member constituency. In a single member only one candidate is elected from the constituency. In the multi member two or more candidates is elected.
2. Registration of voters.
3. Registration of political parties and candidates contesting for the election.
4. The electoral commission decides on the mode of election ie. whether the election shall be by open or secret ballot.
5. Preparation for the election. This involves the construction of polling booth, ballot box, printing of ballot papers, recruitment of electoral official, choosing the date of the election, announcing the duration or venue of the election.
6. carrying out enlighten programs to educate the electorate.
7. Audit the account of political parties.
Electoral Officials and their functions.
1. Returning officers: - He collates the figure of the vote from each polling units and announcing the result of the election.
2. Constituency officers:- He collates electoral materials from the electoral commission in the morning of the election and gives such materials to the supervisory presiding officer.
3. Supervisory presiding officers: - He gives electoral materials to the presiding officers. He also supervises 10- 15 polling units on the day of election to ensure that election is been carry out has stipulated.
4. Presiding officers: - He is in charges of a polling units or booths. He checks the name of voters on the register of voters and accredits them for the election.
5. Polling clerk:- Helps the presiding officers in carrying out his duties.
6. Polling orderly: Ensure that law and order his maintain within the polling booths.
7. Election Observers: - They monitor the conduct of elections and report on the freeness or otherwise of the elections.
8. Security Officers / Pooling Orderlies:- They maintain law and order at the polling station / centre.
9. Resident / Regional / State Electoral Officer: - supervises the conduct of elections at the state / regional levels.
Problems of Electoral Commission
1. Inadequate transport to covey electoral materials and officers on Election Day.
2. The names of voters may miss on the voters register.
3. Government intervention:- Although the election commission is suppose to be an independent body government sometimes intervene in its functions. Government may intervene to make the electoral commission support one candidate or the other.
4. The candidate contesting the election.
5. Corrupt and inefficient staff.
6. Inadequate communication may limit all the election zones for the election.
Electoral Commission | Date, Chairmen|Election(s) Conducted
1. Federal Electoral Commission (FEC) | (1960-1966):
Prof. Eyo Ita Esua (1964-1966) | Regional elections of 1964 and 1965.
2. Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) | (Nov. 15 1976-1983):
Michael Ani (1976-1979), Victor Ovie- Whiskey (1980-1983) | Federal elections of 1979 and 1983.
3. National Electoral Commission (NEC) | (1987- 1993):
Eme Awa (1987-1989)
Huiphrey Nwosu (1989- 1993)
Okon E. Uya (June 1993- Nov. 19 1993) | June 12 Presidential elections.
4. National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NEC) | (1994-1998):
Chief Sumner Dagogo Jack (1994-1998)
5. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) | (1998 till date):
Ephraim Akpata (1998- Jan. 2000), 1999 Presidential election
Abel Guobadia (2000-2005), 2003 Presidential election
Maurice Iwu (2005- April 28 2010), 2007 Presidential election
Attahiru Jega (June 2010- October 2015), 2011 Presidential election
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu (Oct. 29 2015 till date), 2015 Presidential election.
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