Professor Attahiru Jega, a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to pass the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021, immediately.
He said this during a Townhall Meeting on the Electoral bill on Sunday.
According to him, the passage of the bill would improve the integrity of elections in Nigeria.
Professor Attahiru Jega went on to ask the Buhari administration to do everything within its power to ensure that Nigeria goes into the next elections with a new bill.
“This country will be better off if we go into the next election with a new electoral law which will enhance the integrity of the preparations and conduct of the elections,” He said.
While the debate over direct and indirect mode of primaries continues, Professor Jega explained that the bill contains a lot of new amendments.
He added that 36 recommendations had been made for the bill by INEC to the National Assembly, 31 of which were approved with little or no amendments.
In conclusion, Jega noted that the amendments are the first in the last 12 years, and withholding assent to the bill, over a clause, would, therefore, be detrimental to INEC’s ability to adequately prepare for coming elections.
CREDIT: Daily Post
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