Na wetin dey happen for National Assembly wey people dey talk say dem dey drag their feet for the Electoral Act Amendment Bill o!
Mr Adebayo Balogun, wey be the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, don talk say no be political wahala wey dey cause delay, but na procedural matter. According to am, dem dey work hard for the bill for both chambers. E even yarn say harmonisation go happen next week, if everything align.
The wahala wey carry matter go Senate this past Tuesday no gree end. Lawmakers pack inside one closed-door session wey last about four and half hours. Dem dey talk talk about how to fix di report from the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, led by Senator Simon Lalong.
When dem finally come back for plenary, na so e be, no report no resolution. Na real stew o! Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, just give small gist about wetin dem discuss but no details. E just comot mind, say make dem agree and smooth. E no even give one full breakdown. E wan close matter sharp sharp.
As e be now, Nigerians dey fear say dis delay fit scatter the bill wey important for stronger election wahala ahead of 2027. Dem wan fix loopholes wey dey allow bad guys to dey manipulate election style.
Some of di recommendations dey highlight important issues like mandatory real-time electronic results transmission and dem tougher penalties for electoral crimes. Dem even plan to criminalise di failure of presiding officers to sign ballot papers! E be like say dem serious dis time.
No be say na dem alone go fit do am, oh! Major opposition parties dey shout say die! Dem dey vex say National Assembly no dey gree run dis amendment sharp sharp. If dem no move fast, e go fit scatter public confidence for di electoral process.
But at least dem don form one seven-member ad hoc committee wey go help fast-track di process. E be like say dis guys dey try, but di clock dey tick. We sabi say we go need am fast fast before e go turn 2027.
Experts and civil society dey call for di amendments since after 2023 elections. Dem don see say gaps don plenty, wey fit pose serious wahala for di next elections if dem no fix am.
All these don raise serious questions about wetin dey happen for di National Assembly. People dey suspect say dem no wan change wetin don dey happen before. Dem dey too slow for di pace of legislative action; meanwhile, di discontent dey grow.
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