NASS Will Amend Electoral Act 2022 To Remedy Weaknesses - Lawan
PRESS
STATEMENT
NASS Will
Amend Electoral Act 2022 To Remedy Weaknesses - Lawan
The President
of the Senate, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, asserted that efforts will be made by the National
Assembly to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to safeguard against weaknesses
identified in the law.
Sen. Lawan
made this known in a short remark on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 during plenary
session, sequel to a Point of Order on matters of urgent national importance
moved by Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North).
The
Senate Presiding Officer, described the judgement by the Supreme Court on
Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022 as a “landmark” judgement that
vindicates the National Assembly.
According
to him, further amendment of the Act would strengthen it ahead of the 2023
general elections. He asserted saying “Let me say that this is one major
landmark judgement by the Supreme Court that the National Assembly had done
their job and the Court upheld it”.
“The idea
of what method of primaries should be adopted at the moment is entirely left
for the Political Parties to decide”. But as we implement the Electoral Act
2022, we are supposed to be very observant of the strengths and weaknesses of
the law, he noted.
This law
is supposed to improve the Electoral Processes and Procedures in our country. So,
it is for the legislature to ensure that where there are weaknesses, legislative
measures and amendments are carried out to deal with the weaknesses in the law.
This will come full circle when the 2023 general elections are held, Sen. Lawan
stated.
Sen.
Lawan opined that “I have no doubt in my mind that all of us in the National
Assembly, not only in the Senate, but in the House as well, feel that we must
do everything and everything possible to make this Electoral Act 2022 serve the
purpose for which it was passed and assented to”.
Therefore,
I believe that we should work tirelessly to take note of those areas that we
feel are not strong enough - that is the weak points of the electoral law with
a view to strengthening them before we finally take our exit in 2023, the
Senate President declared.
Rising
under Order 42 of the Senate Standing Rules, Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi lauded the
9th Assembly for resisting the pressure from the Executive to amend Section
84(12) of Electoral Act 2022.
He also
applauded the Supreme Court for the clarity, decisiveness and unanimity of its
verdict in upholding the Principles of Separation of Powers as enshrined in the
1999 Constitution (as amended). The lawmaker stressed that the Supreme Court
verdict is a major victory towards true democratic governance anchored on the
Rule of Law.
Sen.
Abdullahi disclosed that the Supreme Court verdict should be celebrated for the
following reasons. It restored and anchor the power of making laws to the National
Assembly; and established a principle that once the President assents to a Bill,
he/she cannot approbate and reprobate, that is he/she cannot go to the Courts
to amend/reject the Bill in part or in whole, he said.
The
lawmaker, however, underscored the need to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to
revert to the mode of Direct Primaries. He noted that one issue still remains
outstanding, and that is amending the Act (after the 2023 elections) to revert
to our earlier stance on Direct Primaries.
He
declared that our recent nasty experience of the misuse of consensus and
delegate system has vindicated our earlier position on the merit of Direct Primaries
provided that a verifiable membership register of political parties is kept
simultaneously at the Ward level and with INEC with all the necessary
safeguards against corruption and data manipulation, is put in place.
“As the
political process towards 2023 unfolds, the National Assembly needs to be
observant of the loopholes and weaknesses of the Electoral Act 2022, so that a
comprehensive assessment is undertaken to provide adequate grounds for making
amendments to the Act before the end of the term of office of the 9th Assembly
in May 2023”, the lawmaker added.
Signed:
Dr. Ezrel
Tabiowo, FAI, FIMC, CMC, FCP, Fsca
Special
Assistant (Press)
To
President of the Senate
Tuesday,
June 28, 2022.