Omo-Agege, Ekweremadu hail signing of new Electoral Act

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and his predecessor, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, have commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Electoral Act Repeal and Re-enactment Bill into law.

The duo spoke via separate statements on Friday after the President assented to the bill at the State House, Abuja.

According to Omo-Agege, for signing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law, President Buhari has written his name in gold, noting that “the country would go into the next general election with a new electoral legal framework.”

He added that the President has removed uncertainty concerning the conduct of the 2023 general elections, stressing that “the new law addresses many loopholes in our electoral system.”

The Deputy Senate President, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, recalled that although the process under the Eighth Senate was fraught with mutual suspicions and bitterness, electoral reform for the Ninth National Assembly remains a priority in its legislative agenda.

“The 9th Senate had promised to bequeath a lasting legacy to Nigerians. Today’s development adds to the list of historic legislations that have defiled previous Assemblies, which the 9th Senate has passed. They include: the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract (Amendment) Act, Petroleum Industry Act, Company And Allied Matters Act and a host of others.

“Without a doubt, a good legal framework helps to create elections with integrity and electoral integrity helps to enhance democratic consolidation and the preparation and conduct of elections democratically.

“The signing of the bill into law would ensure early release of election funds to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), electronic voter accreditation and transmission of results, procedures for local government elections across the country are regulated by the new Electoral Act, early conduct of party primaries and submission of candidates’ list, early commencement of campaigns among others,” he said.

In his own, Senator Ekweremadu described the signing of the bill as a quantum leap for the nation’s democracy.

Ekweremadu, who said the journey to the new electoral law was “quite frustrating”, however poured encomiums on the civil society, media, and Nigerians for standing up for the nation’s democracy.

“I’ve been part of the nation’s electoral reform for over the 10 years, but I must confess that the journey to the new Electoral Act was by far the most frustrating.

“After the major electoral reform of 2010 that also involved amendments to the 1999 Constitution to, among others, open the doors to technology in our electoral system, check some executive excesses, manipulations by political parties, and straighten the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through financial and administrative autonomy, our expectation after amendments to the Electoral Act in 2015 was that the new administration would support the National Assembly to further straighten our electoral laws and system.

“Unfortunately, four times, the amendments were turned down in the 8th National Assembly, apparently thwarted by narrow, partisan interests and ambitions.

“The efforts in the current National Assembly also faced similar challenges, but it is heart-warming that it has finally materialised with the presidential assent.

“Certainly, we didn’t get all we pushed for in the new law, but it is nevertheless a quantum leap for our electoral system and I congratulate all, who played a part in it.

“With the electronic transmission of election results, early primary elections, and adequate time for INEC to prepare for elections, among other breakthroughs, our elections will never be the same again and more Nigerians will be encouraged to exercise their franchise, knowing that their votes will now count,” he stressed.

Facebook Comments Box
Copyright 2024 ROYAL NEWS. All rights reserved. Digital material on this website, may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from ROYAL NEWS.
 

For Adverts and News/Event Coverage, contact 08061346946, 07030849251. Or email info@royalnews.com.ng

Download ROYAL NEWS app

Html code here! Replace this with any non empty raw html code and that's it.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Subscribe

Popular News

Latest News

More like this
Related

Abuse of power: Call IGP Egbetokun to order, CSO tells Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has been called upon to immediately...

Ex-NYSC Director-General, Gen. Mahrazu Tsiga, Others Kidnapped

Suspected bandits have kidnapped a former Director General of...

Senate invokes constitutional power, sacks Adamawa, Sokoto, Abia RECs

Senate, on Wednesday, invoked Section 157(1) of the 1999...

Maikudi sacked as UNIABUJA Vice Chancellor, Lar Manko appointed

Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi has been sacked from her...

BREAKING… Emir Sulu-Gambari appoints Yakubu Layi Gobir as new Sarkin Gobir

The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional...

Gov. Otu Congratulates Gov. Abdulrazaq At 65

Cross River State Governor and Vice Chairman of the...

Suspected fraudsters disguised as assassins to defraud journalist, demand N20 million as saving grace

Suspected fraudsters disguising as assassins have threatened to eliminate...

Court sentences University Professor to 3yrs jailterm for announcing falsehood election results

Professor Ignatius Uduk of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO)...

Citing additional revenues, Tinubu increases 2025 budget to N54.2trn

President Bola Tinubu has raised the proposed 2025 budget...

ONGOING… Gov. AbdulRazaq attends 2025 Mining Indaba In South Africa

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State is among participants...

Abia Govt House still in ‘rented’ quarters 32yrs after

The Abia State Government is set to move to...

30 New Veterinary Doctors Inducted At UNILORIN

No fewer than 30 new veterinary doctors were inducted...

60, 000 pilgrims approved for 2021 hajj

No fewer than 60,000 pilgrims will participate in the...

Nasarawa Assembly organises public hearing on gender-based violence bill

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly on Thursday organised...

Robots begin duty as policemen in Dubai

The “world’s first operational Robocop” started its tour of...

FG hails ARCN’s contributions to food security, improved farmers’ livelihoods

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari,...

Lifted sanctions: Begin democratic process now, Northern Senators task Niger

Following the lifting of sanctions imposed on Niger Republic...

Aviation workers suspend strike action

The strike action embarked upon by Aviation workers under...

Kagara abduction: Declare state of emergency on insecurity, Senate tells FG

The Senate has called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to...

UNILORIN Gets Multi-million Naira Facilities Donation

The University of Ilorin AAKTP team has donated items...