The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been tasked with ensuring compliance with the Constitution and the Election Act, 2022, in the conduct of the elections for Governor and State House of Assembly on March 11, 2023.
Ahmad Lawan, who is the President of the Senate, made the request at the end of Thursday’s plenary. He said that he thinks INEC should think about looking into issues that were brought up by the public during the Presidential and National Assembly elections that just concluded.
The Senate adjourned plenary until March 14 so that senators could take part in the campaigns and elections.
Lawan said that the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections would go more smoothly if the issues brought up by the public were looked into.
He said: “I think INEC should consider looking into issues raised by the public. INEC should be strictly guided by the constitution and the Electoral Act and their guidelines and regulations.”
He told Nigerians that they should help INEC in any way they can so that the Governorship and State Assembly elections go well.
Lawan said: “This is because that is what we all expect and that is what we need as a democracy.
“We will be out of this place for the next two weeks and come back and continue our legislative functions.
“I thank every senator for doing everything possible to make this ninth Senate a success.
“We have finished this legislative week. The idea of reconvening immediately after the Presidential and National Assembly elections was to ensure that we are abreast with the whole situation both that happened during election and are happening now.
“This is so that we remain part and parcel of the solution where necessary and we have achieved that and we have also in the process done other legislative work.
“We have to adjourn for all of us to participate in the campaigns and elections of the governors and states Assembly members.”
He said that seven sitting senators are running for governor, and he gave their names. One of them is Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, who is running for governor of Delta on the All Progressives Congress ticket (APC).
Others are: Sen. Aishatu Binani (APC-Adamawa), Sen. Haliru Jika (NNPP-Bauchi), Sen. Sandy Onor (PDP-Cross River), Sen. Uba Sani (APC-Kadana), Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha (APC-Taraba) and Sen. Teslim Folarin (APC-Oyo).
Lawan said: “We wish all of them success and Nigeria will be making history, this Senate will be making history.
“Sen. Binani will make history if elected to be the first Nigerian female governor.
“We wish all our colleagues contesting and those of us who are not running should all go and participate in the processes because we will be able to observe first hand, some of the issues that may arise.
“During the Presidential and National Assembly elections on a general note, everything went on fine but still we have one or two complaints coming from the public.”
