Omo-Agege Drums Support for Amendment Bill on Electoral Malpractice

Deputy Senate President, Omo-Agege on Monday,  9 December,  2019 at the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room Stakeholders Forum on Elections; organised by the coalition of more than 70 civil societies in Abuja said he had introduced a bill for the comprehensive amendment of the Electoral Act No. 6 of 2010.

He said the bill, co-sponsored by 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 loses 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 the election, define over-voting to include situations where “total votes cast also exceed the 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.

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