INEC Reacts As Buhari Signs Electoral Act

• The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it will on Saturday make public its position on the 2022 Electoral Amendment Bill.

• The long-awaited bill was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the commission made this known in a statement by National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, in Abuja on Friday.

Okoye said that the commission’s submission would be made known after INEC extraordinary meeting scheduled for Saturday.

Read Also: BREAKING: Buhari Bends To Public Demands, Signs Electoral Bill Into Law

He described the signing of the bill as historic being the fourth time since the restoration of democracy in 1999 that it would be repealed.

He added that the act contained many progressive provisions that would facilitate the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.

“Nigeria now has the Electoral Act 2022 which replaces the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).
“Together with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the new act constitutes the principal law to govern the conduct of future elections, including the 2023 General Elections.

“Given the tight timelines contained in the new law, the commission fully appreciates the importance of proceeding with their implementation in earnest.

“Consequently, an extraordinary meeting of the commission is scheduled for tomorrow (Feb. 26) . Thereafter, a statement will be issued on the way forward,” Okoye said.

Recall that the National Assembly had transmitted the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021 to Buhari on January 31 for a second time, after revising the bill.
He had earlier withheld his assent to the bill for some obvious reasons.

There had been calls on Buhari to sign the bill, with some groups and activists threatening to protest if he failed to sign.

Some Civil Society Organisations protested in Abuja on Tuesday over the alleged delay by the President in signing the bill into law.

The bill is expected to strengthen the electoral process.

However, President Muhamadu Buhari eventually signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law today and INEC has reacted, stating that the bill will guide the conduct of future elections, including the 2023 General Elections.

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