They pledged their commitment to ensuring a credible electoral process in the three states during the inaugural meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja, on Monday.
In attendance at the meeting were the Senate Committee Chairman on INEC, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Honourable Bayo Balogun and INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu.
The INEC chairman had presented the commission’s plans and preparations towards hitch-free, transparent and credible elections in the three states.
Senator Alli charged the national electoral body to do all within its capability to ensure that the elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states were transparent fair and credible.
He assured INEC of the readiness of the National Assembly to collaborate with the institution and other relevant stakeholders to ensure an improved electoral process in the country.
Alli said the meeting discussed important matters concerning the activities and preparations of INEC for the upcoming governorship elections in the three states.
The lawmaker stated in a release by his Special Adviser (Media), Akeem Abas, that the ninth Assembly set a high standard for the committee.
He said this was especially with regards to the passage of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Electoral Offences Commission Establishment Bill, 2022 which was sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence.
Alli said the committee was ready to exceed and raise the set standard as indicated in their work plan which would be shared with members of the 10th National Assembly
“Based on the brief I have received, there are pending technical issues that need attention on the Electoral Offences Committee Bill
“And, as you are all aware, there have been calls for possible improvements on the Electoral Act, 2022,” Senator Alli said.
He said the committee would work extensively with INEC and all stakeholders, including the judiciary, to ensure the country’s electoral laws as well as processes receive required attention.
The federal lawmaker said the aim was to enhance and upgrade the national leadership recruitment process.
Alli said the committee would give all the attention required to ensure the creation of additional state constituencies.
He said the committee had engaged INEC on the matter at different occasions with a feedback that all technical issues relating to delineation and creation of constituencies had been dealt with accordingly.
The lawmaker said the National Assembly was expected to play its part in the amendments of necessary sections of the constitution before INEC can implement.
He disclosed that plans were underway to hold retreats for committee members, in collaboration with election stakeholders to prepare them objectively for the assignments.
“Zonal interactive sessions with stakeholders will also be organised by the committee to enable participants strategize on relevant issues regarding pre-election matters
“Also included are possible omissions in the Electoral Act, Electoral Offences Commission (Establishment) Bill and other relevant issues,” he said.
He said the committee also intend to have exchange programmes for committee members and staff of the secretariat.
The lawmaker stated that the objective was to achieve exposure to other legislative operations to enhance knowledge and improve skills in legislative business.
Other members of the committee also offered valuable insights and guidance to INEC towards hitch-free electoral process in the aforementioned three states.
