Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, has urged the incoming Senators to fasten the process of the proposed Electoral Law reform as it would help the commission to prepare ahead of the next election in 2023.
Yakubu mentioned that INEC would have a lot of grounds to cover when the reform takes shape, adding that there isn’t time to waste.
The INEC chairman, while addressing the senators-elect in Abuja, yesterday stated, “As a process governed by law, the success of elections 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 the electoral framework in good time, well ahead of the 2023 general elections.
‘’The tendency to delay electoral reforms, particularly the review of electoral framework until it is too close to the elections, leaves the commission with little time to develop processes, including regulations and guidelines, make required consultations with stakeholders, embark on effective voter education, including sensitisation, train staff and organise deployment for the elections.
‘’I am glad that among the senators-elect are senators that we have worked very closely with and some of them have taken initiatives or even sponsored private member bills to advance the cause of electoral reforms.
‘’We look forward to working very closely with you in the next Senate. However, all these are matters to be considered, I hope we will do so in earnest.”
INEC presented only 100 Certificate of Returns yesterday, as against the standard 109. This was as a result of the pending issues in some of the senatorial districts in the country.
As it stands, the YPP has 1 Senator, the PDP has 37, while the APC has a total of 62 senators.
Also, read: Senate will be interesting if I am there; INEC must issue certificate of return to me – Okorocha