The Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given assurance that the Electoral Offences bill will ready for 2023 general elections.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC Kano South), stated this on Tuesday during screening excercise of 19 Residents Electoral Commissioners (REC) of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Out of the 19 nominees, petitions were submitted against the nomination of Muhammad Lawal Bashir from Sokoto State , Pauline Onyeka Ugochi from Imo State and Dr Oliver Tersoo from Benue State for allegedly being card carrying members of registered political parties.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in July transmitted the names of 19 nominees as Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the Senate for confirmation.
The nominees are Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa); Obo Effanga (Cross River); Umar Ibrahim (Taraba); Agboke Olaleke (Ogun); and Samuel Egwu (Kogi), Onyeka Ugochi (Imo); Muhammad Bashir (Sokoto) and Ayobami Salami from Oyo State.
Others are Zango Abdu (Katsina); Queen Agwu (Ebonyi), Agundu Tersoo (Benue); Yomere Oritsemlebi (Delta); Yahaya Ibrahim, (Kaduna); Nura Ali (Kano); Agu Uchenna (Enugu); Ahmed Garki (FCT); Hudu Yunusa (Bauchi); Uzochukwu Chijioke, (Anambra) and Mohammed Nura (Yobe).
In his opening speech, the Chairman of the committee assured that the committee will work round the clock to ensure that the Electoral body conducts credible Election in the 2023 as the Committee has already forwarded the Electoral Offences Bill to Technical Committee in the House of Representatives.
“The National Assembly is unswavering in making sure that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) succeed in the conduct of the 2023 general election.
“It will interest you to know that the National Electoral Offences Bill is presently being worked on by a technical Committee in the House of Representatives, the legislative intent is to ensure that INEC concentrates on the administration of elections , while Electoral offenders are brought to book to deter others and build a positive electoral culture for our nation”, he said .
He added that preparation for the 2023 elections was in top gear as the National Assembly is ever ready to support INEC for credible election.
