…Reiterates 9th NASS’s Commitment towards leaving lasting legacy
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to the Amended Electoral Bill 2022 to Law, just as he said that with the new law in place, the President has written his name in gold.
Omo-Agege, while reacting to the President’s assent to the Electoral Bill on Friday, February 25, assured that with the new law, the 2023 election in the country will be backed by a sound legal framework, adding that “Mr. President’s assent has removed uncertainty concerning the conduct of the 2023 general elections, as the new law will address many loopholes in our electoral system.”
Recalling the tortuous journey through the 8th National Assembly to the 9th Assembly before the bill materialized into Law, Omo-Agege noted that there were several hitches during the eight National Assembly, pointing out that the Ninth Assembly had to prioritize it.
“The 9th Senate had promised to bequeath a lasting legacy to Nigerians. Today’s development adds to the list of historic legislations that have defiled previous Assemblies, which the 9th Senate has passed. They include the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract (Amendment) Act, Petroleum Industry Act, Company And Allied Matters Act and a host of others.
“Without a doubt, a good legal framework helps to create elections with integrity and electoral integrity helps to enhance democratic consolidation and the preparation and conduct of elections democratically.
“The signing of the bill into law would ensure early release of election funds to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), electronic voter accreditation and transmission of results, procedures for local government elections across the country are regulated by the new Electoral Act, early conduct of party primaries and submission of candidates’ list, early commencement of campaigns among others.”
The National Lawmaker who represents Delta Central Senatorial District in the upper chamber, noted that “Mr. President’s assent, has removed uncertainty concerning the conduct of the 2023 general elections”, pointing out that “the new law addresses many loopholes in our electoral system.”
Meanwhile, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has been commended for the role he played in the process of the Electoral Act Reform.
Commenting on the new electoral law shortly after it was assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy President of the Senate on National Assembly Matters, Mr. Efe Duku recalled that the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District sponsored the Electoral Reform Bill in the Eight Senate, having fallen victim of the deficiencies that constituted the former Electoral law.
According to Duku, “He was robbed in an election he won overwhelmingly in 2015. He had to fight like a wounded lion to reclaim his mandate. And, he did that in a manner that shocked many.
“With that background of ‘electoral injury’, he vowed to pursue electoral reform with all his might and every useful intellectual arsenal he could muster. As a result, a comprehensive electoral reform bill was among the first 3 bills he carefully drafted and sponsored when he took his seat in the 8th Senate in 2016. Regrettably, his ingenious efforts were sabotaged rather unpatriotically by anti-Buhari elements whom he opposed unapologetically.
“With his re-election to the Senate in 2019, he recommitted himself to the all-important but unfinished business of electoral reform. Working from within a National Assembly leadership that is committed absolutely to delivering a legacy of a robust electoral legal framework for the nation, Senator Omo-Agege spent huge intellectual capital to ensure that our elections are free, fair and credible. Our team had the rare privilege of always being by his side as he worked tirelessly with other patriots for a better electoral system for the nation.”
Duku further described Omo-Agege as “a man of steely courage, a dependable friend who is totally loyal to his convictions; a true leader who believes in excellent service to the people.”
