THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday concluded its three-week deliberations on the report on the former Chief Justice Muhammadu Uwais-led Committee on Electoral Reform, opting to set up "a new, truly, non-partisan independent and impartial INEC" (Independent National Electoral Commission) to be appointed by the President and composed of a Chairman, Deputy Chairman and six persons of "unquestionable integrity one of whom must come from each of the six geo-political zones."

Six other nominees are to be nominated from organised Labour, the Nigerian Bar Association, the Media, National Youth Council, Nigerian Civil Society and women organisations. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Other recommendations accepted by the Council include the adoption of the Open Secret Ballot System, funding of INEC from the first-line charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation, unbundling of INEC and new funding parameters for the nation's political parties.

But the Council also rejected some recommendations of the Justice Uwais Committee. They include the following:

* That the National Judicial Council (NJC) should be responsible for the appointment of the Board of INEC and those of the three proposed bodies to be established; and

* that election petitions should be concluded within six months after the elections; four months at the Tribunal and two months at the Appellate Court.

Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili; along with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Adamu Aliero; Minister of State for Information and Communications, Alhaji Ikira Bilbis and Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Olusegun Adeniyi, told journalists at the end of the Council session that government opted to reject the two recommendations because it is "mindful of the doctrine of separation of powers which would be violated if the judiciary is asked to step in to perform executive functions.

"Government also did not accept the recommendation that election petitions should be concluded within six months after the elections; four months at the Tribunal and two months at the Appellate Court because the current system in which judgments sometimes come after six months presents a better dispensation of justice to the aggrieved."

Mrs. Akunyili stated that in rooting for the Open Secret Ballot System, the Council accepted:

* That the voter goes into a polling booth to mark his ballot in secrecy and drop it in the box in the open;

* that accreditation of registered voters prior to the start of voting for the purpose of tracking how many people cast their ballots in a polling station;

* display of voters' register prior to elections to enable registered voters, political parties and the electorate generally to make claims and objections; and

* election results will be announced at all polling centres by presiding officers, duly signed and copies given to accredited agents, the Police and the State Security Service officers.

Other measures accepted by the Council include the abolishment of the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIEC) so that INEC can conduct all elections in the country, including the local council polls.

The Council also accepted that politicians convicted of violence and thuggery during elections, in addition to any other punishment should be banned from holding public office for 10 years.

It also accepted independent candidates and that the funding of INEC is to be first-line charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation so as to guarantee financial and administrative independence.

It also accepted that under the unbundling of INEC, it would be replaced with Political Parties Registration and Regulatory Commission (PPRRC) to, among other things:

* Register political parties, monitor their organisation and operations and arrange for the yearly auditing of accounts;

* establishment of the Electoral Offences Commission to, among other things, deter the commission of electoral malpractices, investigate where they occur and prosecute alleged offenders; and

* establishment of the Centre for Democratic Studies to undertake broad civic and political education for legislators, political office holders, security agencies, political parties and the general public.

The Council also accepted that the number of judges that sit in a tribunal should be reduced from five to three so that more tribunals can be set up in a state.

On the disqualification of candidates, it said this must be done on the basis of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2006.

The Council accepted that for the purpose of transparency and accountability, political parties must publicly disclose to INEC all sources of funding, including donations. Only parties that score a minimum of five per cent of votes cast will be eligible to receive grants from public funds.

The Council also decided to forward the conclusions to the Council of State "for advice."

Akunyili added that "thereafter, those decisions that require administrative action will be immediately implemented; while those that require amendment of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2006 or the enactment of new legislation will be forwarded to the National Assembly."