By John Paul
Besides legislative hitches, Nigeria may soon have a new electoral law in the bag, ahead of the upcoming general elections in the country.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday said arrangements with the two chambers of the National Assembly towards reforming the electoral process has reached a head.
Already, the Commission has forwarded eight of the 142 recommendations to National Assembly as part of ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s electoral process.
Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this during a chat with State House correspondents in Abuja yesterday, explained that the recommendations followed its internal review of the 2023 general elections.
Professor Yakub also confirmed that, given the swift progress by the National Assembly in processing the electoral reform bills, Nigeria is expected to have a new Electoral Act in place before the 2027 general elections.
Speaking further, Professor Yakub, revealed that the Independent National Electoral Commission has been interfacing with the members of the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Electoral reforms on the need for swift action to implement necessary change.
“On electoral reforms we have been interfacing with the National Assembly two weeks ago we had a retreat in Lagos with the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on electoral reforms and the National Assembly, NASS will organise a public hearing and it is after the public hearing that a new bill will be submitted to the President for assent.
“So we are working with the National Assembly on electoral reforms .
“We reviewed the 2023 general elections on our own we engage with the stakeholders and we came out with a 142 recommendations 8 require constitutional or electoral amendment and we discussed this with members of the NASS. So far so good we are happy with our discussions with them ,we are also happy with the speed with which they want to process so that we have some necessary amendments down to the electoral act ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We reviewed the 2023 general elections on our own. We engaged with stakeholders and came up with 142 recommendations. Out of these, eight require constitutional or Electoral Act amendments, and we have already discussed them with members of the National Assembly,” he said.
Yakubu expressed satisfaction with the lawmakers’ response and pace of action.
“So far, so good. We are happy with our discussions with them and the speed at which they want to proceed to ensure necessary amendments are made ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he said.
He added that INEC’s collaboration with the National Assembly was progressing steadily.
“Two weeks ago, we held a retreat in Lagos with the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on electoral reform. Thereafter, the National Assembly will conduct a public hearing, after which a new bill will be introduced,” he explained.
The submission of recommendations and continued legislative engagement, Yakubu said, are part of the Commission’s commitment to ensuring more credible and transparent elections in the future.
Meanwhile, the
INEC Chairman, yesterday dismissed speculations that he had been removed from office.
Yakubu affirmed his position and clarified that no such action had been taken by the President.
“I don’t think we need to waste time on unnecessary speculation. As far as the law is concerned, and to the best of my knowledge, I remain the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Chief Electoral Commissioner of the federation under the Constitution, and the Returning Officer for the presidential election under the Electoral Act,” Yakubu said.
On the other hand, President Bola Tinubu, yesterday swore in two newly appointed commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Those sworn-in by President Tinubu were Mallam Tukur Abdulrazaq Yusuf, representing Northwest and Professor Sunday Nwambam Aja, representing Ebonyi State