Vanguard-Abuja — The new Electoral Act which is to guide the conduct of the 2011 elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, may be passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly today.anguard gathered that although there was an initial disagreement between the Senate and the House of Representatives over some of the amendments to the 2006 Electoral Act, a meeting of members of the harmonization committee yesterday was able to resolve some of the areas of disagreement between the two chambers.Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze who confirmed that the Bill would be passed before the senate proceeds on its recess tomorrow said 'from the atmosphere at the meeting which was cordial, I believe the areas of disagreements would be resolved.'
Senator Ayogu who had earlier addressed newsmen on issues surrounding the amended Electoral Act had clarified that the Senate had carried along the Independent National Electoral Commission in most of the amendments so far made to the Electoral Act.According to him, "the National Assembly is very willing and we are going to give it very positive consideration. We are very willing to ensure that we cooperate with INEC to ensure that this election becomes something that will glorify rather than impugn the integrity of Nigeria in the international community.
"We are ready to work with INEC," he pointed out.
On the order of elections proposed by the senate, Senator Ayogu stated that 'we have tried to ensure that these elections are separated for purposes of easy administration. If we leave it hanging, they might lump them together as in the past and the complaints would continue but this time around, we want to make sure that whatever impediments are on the way of free and fair election are removed'.Speaking on the financial requirements by INEC for the compilation of the voters register, the senate spokesperson promised that 'any proposal from INEC would be favourably considered by the senate and disposed of'.He said the senate granted the request of the commission on the time frame proposed for the compilation of the voters register because it wants to give INEC all the support it needs.
"They have written to us at the committee level and we have taken this in plenary and it has been passed. These are time frames that INEC has given to us that if we grant them those time frames; they will be able to conduct the elections."Because when it was supposed to be 90 days they suggested 60 days and we obliged them so that they have enough time before election."So instead of the voters' register being ready in October or thereabout they now have up to November, two clear months before election in January" Senator Ayogu noted.
