Omo-Agege introduces amendment bill on electoral malpractice – TheNigerialawyer

Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege on Monday said, he had
introduced a bill for the comprehensive amendment of the Electoral
Act No. 6 of 2010.

Omo-Agege said this at the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
Stakeholders Forum on Elections, organised by the coalition of more
than 70 civil societies in Abuja.

He said the bill, co-sponsored with Sen. Abubakar Kyari of Borno
North Senatorial District, was now making its way to public
hearing, having scaled Second Reading with overwhelming bipartisan
support in the Senate.

“It is a decisive response to a plethora of our Supreme Court’s
decision inviting the National Assembly to make sensible amendments
to the Electoral Act.

“And I believe it is responsible for us to take the apex court’s
constructive guidance on issues that fundamentally affect our
democracy.

“This apart, Section 153 of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended,
specifically and expressly empowers INEC to “issue regulations,
guidelines, or manuals for the purpose of giving effects to the
provisions of this Act and for its administration thereof.

“The pervasive non-compliance with the Guidelines, Regulations
and Manuals, would carry clear consequences for people who think
violating electoral due process is a rewarding exercise.

“The proposed Bill to amend the Electoral Act would focus on
resolving issues surrounding INEC’s introduction of modern
technologies into the electoral process, particularly accreditation
of voters.’’

Omo-Agege said that the bill would also mandate INEC to publish
the Voters’ Register for public scrutiny at every Registration Area
and on its website, at least seven days before a general
election.

According to him, it also mandates INEC to suspend an election
in order to allow a political party that losses its candidate
before or during an election to conduct a fresh primary to elect a
replacement or new candidate.

He said the bill would grant agents of political parties the
right to inspect original electoral materials before the
commencement of election, define over-voting to include situations
where “total votes cast also exceed total number of accredited
voters’’.

According to the lawmaker, it also provides greater clarity and
transparency in the process of reaching the final announcement of
election results, starting with sorting of ballots, counting of
votes among others.

Omo-Agege said the bill would mandate INEC to record and keep
relevant detailed information of results sheets, ballot papers and
other sensitive electoral materials used in an election, with clear
consequences for violation.

He said the bill also provided sanctions for giving false
information on registration of a political party, and that failure
by INEC and others to comply with any provision of the Act carried
clear and adequate sanctions.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who was represented by Mr
Festus Okoye, Chairman Information and Voter Education, said the
Commission was committed to electoral reforms that would strengthen
the power and value of the vote.

Yakubu said the Commission would work assiduously with critical
stakeholders in the electoral process in providing clarity,
removing ambiguities, plugging existing lacuna in laws and
constitutionally implementing those aspects of the law that
guaranteed the credibility of elections.

“The Commission will definitely send its proposals to the
National Assembly to clearly state aspects of the existing Law it
supports, aspects that need further retooling, and new proposals
that will strengthen the electoral process and the regulatory
functions of the Commission.’’

Mr Abubakar Malami, Attorney General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice, said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led
administration was committed to tackling electoral fraud and
violence through the establishment of an Electoral Offences
Commission.

Malami who was represented by Ms Juliet Ibekaku, Senior Special
Assistant to the President on Ethics and Justice, said the
government was already working with the 9th National Assembly with
a view to ensuring an early passage of amendments to the Electoral
Act and the Election Offences Commission Bill into law.

Earlier, Mr Clement Nwankwo, Convener, Nigeria Civil Society
Situation Room, said the objective of the event was to discuss the
current state of the electoral environment in the country.

Nwankwo said it also aimed to make recommendations and
suggestions that would improve the political and electoral process
in Nigeria.

“We believe INEC has the responsibility to be a key driver of
the much needed change in the electoral sector,’’ he added.
(NAN)