INEC urges 9th N’Assembly to speed up amendment of Electoral Act

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has urged the 9th National Assembly to commence and conclude in earnest the amendment to the Electoral Act ahead of the 2023 general election.

Yakubu made this declaration on Thursday in Abuja while presenting Certificate of Return to the elected members of the National Assembly.

He observed that as a matter of urgency, the commission would begin work on post-2019 elections review and road map to the 2023 general election.

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He stated: “There is a lot of work but very little time available. As a process governed by law, the success of election in Nigeria depends to a large extent on the electoral legal framework and most importantly in ensuring adherence to the law.

“I want to assure you that we will continue to work with the National Assembly to review and strengthen our electoral law.

“But, I want to appeal to the senators-elect to please start work early and conclude work on electoral framework in a good time well ahead of the 2023 general election.

“The tendency to delay electoral reform particularly the review of electoral framework until it is too close to the elections leave the commission with little time to develop processes including regulations and guidelines, make required consultation with stakeholders, embark on effective voter education including sensitisation, train staff and organised deployment for the elections.”

Meanwhile, the electoral body has maintained grave silence five days after it suspended all electoral processes in Rivers State.

The commission had on Sunday suspended all electoral processes in Rivers State after the invasion of the state collation centre by soldiers, which later prompted the setting up of a Fact-Finding Committee to assess the situation in the state.

The commission subsequently gave the committee 48 hours to submit its report before taking any further decision.

However, five days after, the commission has refused to make known the findings of the committee.

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