NECO 2023 SUMMARY PASSAGE BY: DINZEI MAUREEN MRRIS

 NECO 2023 SUMMARY PASSAGE

SECTION C

SUMMARY

(30 MMARKS)

You are advised to spend bout 30 minutes on this section

1.      Read the passage below carefully and answer the question on it.

 A nation that is democratic usually would have democratic institutions. One of such institutions is the electoral commission. Constitutionally, the commission is a body responsible for organizing and conducting elections in a political system. In other words, it is an independent and impartial body mandated to organize and conduct elections in a given country. It has a chairman as the head and other members. For instance, Nigeria has had several electoral commissions with different designations. Some of these are the Federal Electoral Commission of Nigeria (FEDECO) and the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The above-named commissions are merely a change of nomenclature but the functions remain the same.

The statutory functions of the Commission need not be over-emphasised as they are aimed at conducting free and fair elections. The Commission is saddled with the responsibility of dividing the country into constituencies or electoral districts. The advantage is that it gives the electorate the opportunity to express their franchise easily. But the disadvantage is that it may lead to gerrymandering. That is, the leaders may construct the electoral districts in such a way as to give the majority party more representations in the parliament.

Political parties are registered according to laid down rules and regulations. In Nigeria, for example, before the conduct of the 2011 elections, INEC registered over 50 political parties that participated in the elections. In addition, the Commission also registered eligible voters. This is done manually or electronically. The expression of franchise by voters may take the form of restricted or universal adult suffrage. However, the latter is the most popular and universally acknowledged. It is constitutional and democratic because all qualified adults are allowed to vote and be voted for.

The Commission educates the electorate about the necessary issues involved in elections. It informs the people about their rights, the method of voting to be adopted (either secret or open balloting), identification of party symbols and the proper manner of voting.

The body also provides all necessary materials needed for an election ( both sensitive and non-sensitive), such as ballot boxes, ballot papers, result sheets, etc. Moreso, aspirants for elections are properly screened and their eligibility duly ascertained before any election. This affirms the credibility of the candidate who is vying for any particular post.

Electoral officers like clerks, polling orderliness, presiding officers and returning officers are appointed and trained by the Commission. These enhance the smooth conduct of elections.

Finally, the Commission is responsible for the counting of votes and release of the results of each election conducted. This is to be done under strict supervision to avoid rigging of elections.

 

In six sentences, one for each, state the functions of an electoral commission.

(5 marks each)