Reps Identity Need For Reforms In Electoral Legal Framework

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun, has emphasized the urgent need for reforms in Nigeria’s electoral legal framework.

Speaking at a consultative meeting with election petition lawyers organized by the national Assembly joint committee on Electoral matters in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Center, PLAC, and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO, Balogun cited gaps and inconsistencies revealed during the 2023 general election.

The Lawmaker stressed the importance of collaboration between lawmakers, legal practitioners, and other stakeholders in ensuring a more transparent and effective electoral process.

He noted that while the Electoral Act 2022 introduced critical reforms, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal, the 2023 elections exposed significant loopholes that required urgent legislative attention.

Balogun highlighted the need to address judicial inconsistencies, streamline election dispute resolution timelines, and review penalties for electoral offences to deter malpractices and ensure credible elections.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, also emphasized the need for urgent reforms.

Osigwe expressed concern over contradictory and inconsistent judicial decisions that have emerged from recent election petitions.

The Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Clement Nwankwo, commended the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Electoral Matters for its commitment to electoral reforms.

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, assured stakeholders that their contributions will be given serious legislative consideration.

The consultative meeting, organized by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, marked a significant step towards addressing Nigeria’s electoral legal challenges and strengthening the country’s electoral system.

The meeting also had in attendance officials from the Independent National Electional Commission, INEC.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji