Electoral Act: Fresh Amendments Stalled Till September 16

– Lawmakers Ignore Protesters, Proceed on Annual Vacation

– Our Aim Is To Strengthen Democracy, Says Committee Chair

The bid by the National Assembly to further amend the Electoral Act 2010 has been temporarily stalled, THE WHISTLER gathered on Saturday.

Findings indicated that the earliest possible date the lawmakers would resume work on bills seeking to either amend or repeal/re-enact the Act would be September 16.

The Senate and the House of Representatives had proceeded on a seven-week annual recess last week, ignoring calls by about 5,000 online protesters demanding that lawmakers should suspend the recess and speed up the passage of the amendments to the Act.

Investigations by THE WHISTLER showed that two key bills were pending before the National Assembly, each seeking to alter the provisions of the Act to improve on the country’s electoral system.

One of the bills, the “Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2020”, was jointly sponsored by the legislature, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

It had succeeded in scaling the first and second reading stages on the floor of the Senate. But, at the House, it passed first reading before the lawmakers embarked on the annual recess.

Not much was heard of the bill after the second reading by the Senate, which took place since March this year.

The second bill, “Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020”, was sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives, Rep Olufemi Fakeye.

Sources at the legislature informed THE WHISTLER on Saturday that the target of the bills was to restructure the provisions of the Electoral Act, such that it would bring Nigeria’s electoral process in tandem with modern reforms and realities.

One official said, “When you hear the mention of repeal and re-enactment, it means the entire Act as it is today, is defective.

“The several loopholes in the Act are such that they still allow politicians to commit a lot of fraud during elections and get away with it.

“The electoral umpire, INEC, too and security agencies appear helpless in most instances because everyone is capitalising on the weaknesses of the law.”

THE WHISTLER learnt that major changes being proposed included “electronic voting” and the “challenges witnessed over the years in the reporting period of election results, funding, the role of the political parties, as well as the justice system.”

The Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters, Rep Aisha Dukku, told THE WHISTLER that it was indeed the intention of legislators to present the bills for debate and second before the recess, but explained that events overshadowed the plan as members had to deal with many other pressing national issues.

“Yes, it’s true that we didn’t take the bills for second reading. They were to be taken on Tuesday (last week).

“But, the Order Paper was so loaded that day with motions, reports and urgent matters for the attention of the House. Work will certainly continue as soon as we resume in September (16th)”, Dukku, a member of the All Progressives Congress from Gombe State, told THE WHISTLER.

Speaking on what to expect in the amendments, she said, “Everything there is to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy. That is the aim of the Electoral Act Repeal and Re-Enactment Bill. This is so that we will have free, fair and credible elections, going forward.

“Every Nigerian is interested in how the elections in the country are conducted. It is both for the voter and the voted.

“So, every aspect of the proposal is to strengthen the entire process.”

THE WHISTLER recalls that the Centre for Liberty (CFL) had coordinated the online protests on “Change Nigeria”, where about 5,000 Nigerians signed the petition demanding that the lawmakers stayed back to treat the bills.

The Project Lead, Mr Ariyo-Dare Atoye, had stated that the centre’s focus was on “electoral reforms, among other core issues bordering on democratic governance and social change in Nigeria.”

The organisation insisted that electoral reforms were now a right Nigerians demanded from their legislature, a reason they sought the speedy passage of the amendments ahead of the 2023 polls.

At the Senate, it was the Deputy President, Senator. Ovie-Omo Agege, who led the debate for the second reading of the bill in March.

Findings indicated that lawmakers had cited the COVID-19 pandemic as one major setback to legislative duties this year.

One legislative official, speaking with THE WHISTLER, noted, “Don’t forget that the country, as else where in the world, returned from the Christmas and new year break only to be welcomed by the COVID -19 pandemic.

“It has been a rat-race since then. In Nigeria, we have had months of lockdowns. All of this affected the pace at which the 9th Assembly would have loved to work.

“For now, plenary and committee sittings are still not being observed in full due to the pandemic.

“But, the electoral Act is important and members have a commitment to pass the new changes in the months ahead.”