By Disun Amosun
Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters Rep. Adebayo Balogun has made a strong case for urgent electoral reforms and legal framework guiding the process, citing gaps and inconsistencies revealed during the 2023 general elections.
He made the call in Abuja at a consultative meeting with Election Petition Lawyers organized by the National Assembly NASS Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in partnership with the Policy and Kegal Advocacy Centre PLAC, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office FCDO.
This is just as the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC at a different forum called for legislation to ban the carrying of large cash at the vicinity of polling booths to discourage vote buying.
The Chairman House Committee on Electoral Matters underscored the importance of synergy between stakeholders, especially lawmakers and legal practitioners in ensuring a more transparent and effective electoral process.
He harped on the need for continuous search for a globally acceptable Electoral Act that would stem electoral malpractices and improve confidence in the process.
Rep. Balogun similarly stressed the crucial role litigation lawyers play in interpreting and testing electoral laws, stating that their courtroom experiences provide invaluable insights into areas needing strengthening, clarifications or amendments.
He assured attendees that insights shared at the meetingi would be instrumental to shaping amendments to the Electoral Act.
In its contribution at the meeting, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC called on the NASS to enact strict laws prohibiting the possession of large sums of money within polling areas as part of efforts to curb vote-buying abd other electoral malpractices.
INEC Director of Litigation and Prosecution, Tanimu Muhammed SAN, highlighted growing concern over vote buying which has become a major threat to the country’s democratic process.
He said that politicians try to justify carrying large amount of cash on election day by citing party agents payment and other logistical expenses and warned that unrestricted cash circulation in and around polling areas fuel vote-buying and compromise elections integrity.
To address this challenge, Muhammed suggested that individuals should not be allowed to carry more than N50,000. cash on them within polling areas.
INEC urged lawmakers to prioritize amendments that would close loopholes being exploited by political actors.
