From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
At the welcoming of members back from the election break on Tuesday, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, emphasised the importance of passing the Electoral Offences Bill before the end of the ninth assembly in June.
Gbajabiamila explained that the enactment of the bill is crucial to the effective prosecution of individuals who violate electoral laws, which is essential to safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy.
He emphasised that the enforcement of punishment against electoral offenders is a necessary deterrent to others and will build confidence in the country’s electoral process.
According to him, “the Electoral Offences Act is one area where we must take action before the culmination of the 9th House of Representatives.”
He further expressed his appreciation to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, and the commission’s staff for their role in ensuring the successful conduct of the 2023 general elections.