Prior to the March 11, 2023 elections for governor and state houses of assembly, the Senate yesterday requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, strictly abide by the 1999 Constitution as amended and the Electoral Act 2022 in conducting the election.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja prior to the Senate’s adjournment until March 14, Senate President Senator Ahmad Lawan urged the electoral umpire to take into account all concerns raised by the electorate during the recently concluded presidential and National Assembly elections in order to ensure a smooth process.
In order for senators to take part in the elections and campaigns, the session was adjourned.
Lawan said: “I believe INEC should take into account looking into issues brought up by the public. The Constitution, the Electoral Act, and their rules and regulations should be INEC’s only sources of guidance.
“In order for INEC to successfully conduct the governorship and state assembly elections, Nigerians should provide it with all the support they can.
This is the case because that is what we all need and expect as a democracy. For the next two weeks, we will be absent from this location before continuing our legislative duties when we return.
“I appreciate each senator for doing their part to make the Ninth Senate a success. This week of legislative business is over. To make sure we are up to date with everything, including what happened during the election and what is happening right now, we convened right after the presidential and National Assembly elections.
“This is so that we can continue to contribute to the solution when it is needed, and we have done that while also working on other pieces of legislation in the process.
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We must adjourn in order for everyone to take part in the campaigns and elections for governors and state assembly members.
Ovie Omo-Agege, the deputy Senate president, is running for governor of Delta on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform, along with Sens. Aishatu Binani (APC-Adamawa), Haliru Jika (NNPP-Bauchi), and Sandy Onor. According to Lawan, seven serving senators are running for governor (PDP-Cross River).
Sens. Teslim Folarin, Emmanuel Bwacha, and Uba Sani (all from the APC-Kadana) are some others (APC-Oyo).
“We wish them all the best, and we know that Nigeria and this Senate will make history.
If elected as Nigeria’s first female governor, Senator Binani will go down in history. We encourage everyone who is contesting and those of us who are not to go and take part in the processes so that we can see some of the potential problems up close.
On the whole, everything went smoothly during the presidential and National Assembly elections, but Lawan continued, “We still have a few complaints coming from the public.