The Bill to establish the National Electoral Offences Commission and Electoral Offences Tribunal (HBs 695, 753, 1372, 1427 and 1589) scaled second reading in the House of Representatives and has been referred to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative action. The Bill seeks to establish a Commission and Tribunal which shall be responsible for prohibition, investigation, and prosecution electoral offences.
Leading the debate on the Bill, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Aisha Dukku (APC: Gombe) in her submissions, informed lawmakers that the Bill prohibits and penalizes multi practices of electoral fraud and offences. According to her, the Bill if passed into law, would address the cases of corruption and malpractices in Nigeria’s electoral processes. Speaking in support of the Bill, the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC: Borno) stated that the Bill is relevant to the attainment of a free, fair and accountable electoral system.
The bill is a consolidation of a Senate Bill and 4 bills by different legislators of the House of Representatives that seeks to establish the National Electoral Offences Commission and Offences Tribunal. These Bills are sponsored by Hon. Dukku, Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP: Rivers), Hon. Francis Uduyok (PDP: Akwa Ibom), and Hon. John Dyegh (PDP: Benue), while the fifth Bill considered and consolidated is the version which was passed by the Senate on Tuesday, 13 July 2022, and transmitted for concurrence.
It is expected that the Bill be will be passed by the House of Representatives following the adoption and approval of the report by the Committee of the Whole.
