A bill seeking to amend the constitution and provide for diaspora voting has passed the second on the floor of the House of Representatives.
The bill, which was co=sponsored by the Speaker, Abas Tajudeen and Hon. Sadiq Abdulahi seeks to amend the 2022 Electoral Act and provide the opportunity for Nigerians outside the country to vote.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Adebayo Balogun, speaking on a programme, Politics Today on Channels Television, spoke on the major aspects of the electoral reforms going on in the National Assembly.
According to him, the key areas of the reform are: ensuring that all litigations end before swearing in, ensuring free, fair, credible elections, and to provide for an inclusive electoral system.
“In terms of concluding all election litigations before swearing in, we want to ensure that our laws are not ambiguous”. Citing the circumstance of the two-third majority of votes in the FCT, he said that it will be well spelt out during the amendment, as well as penalties for frivolous cases.
He said that the House of Reps is having a thorough look at diaspora. Voting and its challenges. Hon. Balogun pointed out several challenges with diaspora voting, which include, identifying Nigerians, especially in neighbouring African countries, as most Nigerians reside in these countries without proper documentation.
He added that more of these issues will be discussed during the public hearing.
Early voting, voting by people on essential duties, and even inmates were also not left out, he said – inclusiveness is supposed to touch all these areas.
Senator Balogun pointed out that the major problem in Nigeria’s electoral process is the trust deficit on the process.
When asked about the impact the appointment of key INEC officials would have on the electoral process, Hon. Balogun said that the House is planning a robust public hearing where all the critical issues on the amendment will be deliberated on, extensively, with a lot of education on the issues before the hearing proper.
Further speaking on the weakness of the electoral laws, Balogun said that the amendment will also provide for punishments of electoral offences across all levels, saying, that the current Act recognizes electoral offences, but in most cases without any punishments.
According to him, there are plans to get the amendment signed by the middle of next year, to provide enough time for all stakeholders to be educated on the provisions of the amendment.
