All too often, politicians sweep important matters under the carpet, leaving many important issues unresolved until they turn into a national crisis. The bi-partisan talks are a case in point.

It is discouraging to see politicians either boycotting or routinely threatening to boycott the talks, which are critical if the country is to have a functional and fully constituted electoral commission.

The effect of the dilly-dallying tactics is that the committee that had been initially set up to interview potential candidates for electoral commissioners and their chairman has been in abeyance, yet its members continue to draw salaries and allowances from public coffers. This perpetuates the very wastage of public resources that politicians purport to condemn.

If the politicians assigned to represent their sides in the talks are not ready to conclude them, then they should do the honourable thing, officially call off the talks and allow the committee to proceed with its work.

So far, there are several constituencies that do not have MPs because the incumbents either lost election petitions or died. Voters in such areas remain politically disenfranchised for no fault of their own.

This is because the hands of the Speaker of the National Assembly are tied since he cannot declare a seat vacant unless there is an electoral commission in place to conduct the necessary by-election. Why are we as a nation allowing this lacuna to persist?

The country is also due for a review of constituency boundaries, a matter provided for in law. This is the year the review must be done, yet there is no commission in place, six months to the end of the year. This is not something that ought to be pushed to next year because it will raise both legal and constitutional challenges, yet no one appears bothered by this impending breach.

Which is why we are arguing that there is urgent need to fully constitute the electoral commission. This should be done in good time to allow the those who will take over office ample time to learn the ropes to ensure the anticipated by-elections, boundary review and the 2027 election are credible and conducted in line with the Constitution.

Politicians should either step up to the plate or get out of the way so that the hiring process can resume and constitutional timelines adhered to.