The Harmonisation committee constituted from the both Houses of the National Assembly has commenced work on reconciling differences in a few contentious clauses passed in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill In July.
The Chairman of the Conference Committee, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, in his remarks at the opening ceremony of the conference committee retreat held in Abuja, said the Committee will not go back on the promise made to Nigerians rather, will see to the improvement of the electoral process and reforms that will further strengthen, entrench, and sustain the country’s democracy and its institutions.
He said the Senate and the House of Representatives Committees on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and Electoral Matters worked closely in reviewing all issues and challenges surrounding elections in Nigeria, especially the enormous challenges witnessed from the general elections of 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019.
The Senate leader confirmed that recommendations of the INEC, the electorate, political parties, the general public, Civil Society Organisations, youth organisations, technical partners of the National Assembly, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and many other professional institutions relevant to the sustenance of democracy were considered in the bill.
He highlighted some of the aspects of citizens top priority which has been addressed in the Electoral Act 2021 which includes the imposition of stiffer sanctions for electoral Offences, the provision of legal backing for electoral technology, strengthening financial independence of the INEC.
Other areas addressed in the new proposed bill includes the process of political parties changing candidates for an election, issues surrounding the death of a candidate during an election, conducting primaries, the jurisdiction of courts, providing early notice of election, which is to be given 360 days before a general election and 14 days before a by-election as well as submission of a list of candidates before the appointed date for an election.
He affirmed that the 9th National Assembly has almost completed work on the bill for an act to establish the National Electoral Offences Commission, which will help in relieving the INEC of the responsibility of prosecuting electoral offenders and curb the impunity in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Abdullahi who is also the Senate Majority Leader assured that the Electoral Bill Amendment process which started from the 7th Assembly through to the 8th Assembly will receive presidential accent in the 9th Assembly.