The Senate in Nigeria has revealed that final moves are being made to adopt a new Electoral Act, with the newly amended Bill scheduled for assent from the President this month.
Following months of back and forth, as well as demands from the public, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and various CSOs, Senator Kabiru Gaya, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC) has revealed that the National Assembly plans to submit the amended Electoral Bill to President Muhammadu Buhari as early as this month.
Gaya, who disclosed this during a forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Nigeria, said that the National Assembly Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters was working towards ensuring early passage of the bill.
“We are doing the Electoral Act, we have virtually completed. What we are supposed to do at this level is to bring it to the floor of the Senate for consideration and the floor of the House of Reps also for consideration,” he said. “If we are working together with the house, it means the bill will be one. The house bill and the Senate bill will be one. There will be no need to go for concurrence.”
Speaking further on the proposed Bill, Gaya emphasized that the Bill being worked on is on that will make voters and other election stakeholders across the country happy. “As we promised that within the first quarter of 2021 the bill be signed, we hope and pray that bill will be signed and it will enhance the democratic progress in this country,” he said.
First Submission In Three Years
President Mohammadu Buhari had in December 2018 declined assent to the last Electoral Act Amendment Bill presented before him. Citing “drafting” and “timing issues,” the 2019 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate withheld assent despite pressure from the public and many politicians, including leaders of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“I am declining assent to the Bill principally because I am concerned that passing a new electoral bill this far into the electoral process for the 2018 general elections which commenced under the 2015 Electoral Act, could create some uncertainty about the applicable legislation to govern the process. Any real or apparent change to the rules this close to the elections may provide an opportunity for disruption and confusion in respect of which law governs the electoral process,” his statement read.
According to Gaya, about 87 memoranda were submitted to the committee but after consideration, imputes were gotten from 27 to the bill.
This story is part of our new series on Nigeria where we analyse electoral and political reform in the country ahead of the next general elections in 2023.
This story is part of our new series on Nigeria where we analyse electoral and political reform in the country ahead of the next general elections in 2023.
