Abuja (Nigeria): Some senators have insisted that the amendment to Nigeria’s Electoral Act must place the full burden of proof on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the event of election litigations.
The lawmakers shared their minds on Wednesday at plenary when debate resumed on a bill for an act to repeal the Electoral Act No 13, 2022 and enact the Electoral Bill 2025 to regulate the conduct of Federal, State and Area Councils elections.
The Senate had, on Thursday, Oct. 16, stood down further consideration of the bill, saying that the time was not auspicious for the Senate to debate the bill.
The Senate had also emphasised the need for further consultations on the bill before further proceedings.
Senate Majority Leader, Sen.Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti), had also stressed the need for lawmakers to understand the general principles and details of the bill entirely, hence the postponement of further considerations to another legislative date.
At the resumed debate on the bill on Wednesday, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, stated that INEC must be held accountable for the elections it conducted, emphasising that the burden of proof for election outcomes rests with INEC.
He stated that INEC should be able to demonstrate that the elections it conducted were conducted in accordance with the provisions of the law.
“They are in charge of logistics and electoral materials, every action at the election, and so they should be able to prove and validate the outcome of every election.”
He said that the National Assembly would put in its best on the electoral act amendment bill for the good of all Nigerians and the nation’s electoral system.
Corroborating, Sen.Seriake Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa) said that the burden of proof on electoral matters should lie with INEC alone, not the election disputes contenders in court.
He also advocated for the deployment of advanced technology in election matters, such as BVAS, and for enhanced funding for the commission.
Sen. Lere Oyewumi (PDP-Osun) advocated the provision of stiffer penalties for election offenders to serve as deterrents to other would-be offenders.
Sen. Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno) emphasised that a credible party primary is crucial for holding credible general elections.
He said that the sought amendment should regulate party primaries, especially on what candidates spend on election primaries.
According to him, there is a need to curb the incidence of vote buying in the election system.
Sen. Garba Maidoki (APC – Kebbi) stated that measures should be devised to involve Nigerians in the Diaspora in the nation’s electoral process, considering their significant contributions to the economy through remittances, which are driving economic growth.
Sen.Adamu Alero (APC-Kebbi) said efforts should be made to remove all the inconsistencies in the act, saying elected officials should be made to be part of political party primaries via their inclusion on the delegate lists.
He advocated for the elimination of all forms of electoral malpractice through the improved use of BVAS and other technology, aiming to make elections in Nigeria free and fair.
“Let us work to improve the BVAS, to announce whatever the election results are,” Alero said.
Other lawmakers who supported the introduction of improved technology for the nation’s electoral process included Senators Orji Uzor Kalu(APC-Abia) and Ali Ndume (APC-Borno), among others.
The bill, which passed second reading, was referred to the Senate Committee on INEC for further legislative inputs.
