On Saturday, 24th September 2022, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) in collaboration with the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, with support from the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) held a retreat on the National Electoral Offences Commission Bill 2022, in Abuja. The purpose of the retreat was for the Committee to fine-tune the bill, to reflect stakeholders’ input from the public hearing on the bill.
In her opening remarks, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Aishatu Dukku noted that electoral offences and money politics were major threats to elections in Nigeria, and as such, the passage of the National Electoral Offences Commission Bill will serve to enhance the electoral process and disincentivise those who seek to circumvent it. Executive Director of PLAC, Clement Nwankwo commended the Committee for its efforts towards electoral reform, especially with regard to the actualisation of the Electoral Act 2022 and commitment to the passage of the National Electoral Offences Commission Bill. A representative of the UK FCDO, Matthew Ayibakuro expressed the commitment of the FCDO for continued support and partnership with the Committee.
The Committee has gone on to present its report on the bill to the House at plenary and taking other necessary steps to ensure its passage. It will be recalled that the Senate has passed its version of the bill. Upon passage of the bill by the House of Representatives, both houses will be expected to harmonise their versions of the bill before forwarding it to the President for assent.