BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – A citizens-led research-based initiative, #FixPolitics says the National Assembly (NASS) must carefully consider the bill seeking to repeal the Electoral Act 2010 to avoid obvious pitfalls going forward.
According to the body, conscious efforts should be made by the lawmakers to strengthen some sections of the Act that are currently weak, problematic and prone with irregularities.
The Initiative stated this position in a document addressed to the joint Senate and House of Representatives committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Electoral Matters.
This is against the backdrop of calls by the joint committee for a public hearing on ‘A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Electoral Act No. 6, 2010 (as amended) and Enact the Independent National Electoral Commission Act 2020, to regulate the conduct of Federal, State and Area Council elections for Related Matters’.
In its document titled: “#FixPolitics’ Electoral Bill Memorandum (Position and Recommendations)” and addressed to the joint committee, #FixPolitics insisted that sections of the existing Act need urgent amendment to gift Nigerians a robust and easily implementable Electoral laws.
A statement issued by the group’s Publicist and Spokesperson, Mr. Ozioma Ubabukoh, on Monday, said; “Our position and recommendations is to engage the existing political order to produce sustained change that guarantees democratic progress and wellbeing of the people.”
Ubabukoh said some grey areas in the Act which #FixPolitics has made recommendations include: “Section 2 – Functions of the Commission; Section 6 – Establishment of Offices in Each State and FCT; Section 9 – Continuous Registration; and Section 12 – Qualification for Registration.”
He listed others as: “Section 44 – Format of Ballot Papers; Section 52 – Conduct of Poll by Open Secret Ballot; Section 87 – Nomination of Candidates by Party; Section 119-157 – Electoral Conduct; and Section 127 – Voting by Unregistered Persons.”
On ‘Section 2 – Functions of the Commission’, #FixPolitics said; “We propose that the National Assembly should take on the role and responsibility of calling for a referendum on a new constitution.
“The National Assembly should facilitate the process through which the Nigerian people can exercise their constitutional sovereignty to give themselves a constitution. This role is not only consistent with principles of constitutional democracy, it is also a validation of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.”
Similarly, the group also proposed a reduction of the time provided in ‘First schedule – Rules of Procedure for Election Petitions: Sections 12, 14, 16, 18 & 142’.
It also recommended that; “Paragraph 12(1), which gives a respondent 21 days within which to respond to a petition, can be shortened to seven days. Paragraph 16(1) which provides a petitioner five days within which to respond to new facts by the respondent, can be shortened to 48 hours.”
#FixPolitics however urged the joint committee to demonstrate statesmanship in amending the problematic sections and effectively addressing identified deficiencies in the Act.
“We expect that the proposed amendment will strengthen transparency and accountability in the nation’s electoral system,” the group said.
