By Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
President of the Federal Republic Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has signed the Electoral Bill 2022 into law.
Reacting to this, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC says it appreciates the importance of proceeding with the implementation in earnest given the tight timelines contained in the new law.
In a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee Barrister Festus Okoye, the Commission said as a result of its urgency, it has scheduled an extraordinary meeting for tomorrow Saturday 26th February 2022 which after, a statement will be issued on the way forward.
The Statement described the signing of the bill as historic since it is the fourth time since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999 that the Electoral Act is repealed and re-enacted which connotes that the bill contains many progressive provisions that will facilitate the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.
According to the statement, the nation now has the Electoral Act 2022 which replaces the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended). Together with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the new Act constitutes the principal law to govern the conduct of future elections, including the 2023 General Election.
