The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has said that the National Assembly (NASS) is committed to joining other stakeholders to achieve call for reforms of the electoral legal framework, and also to protect the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Akpabio made the remark on Tuesday during the Citizens Town Hall on Electoral Reforms organised by Yiaga Africa in partnership with the senate joint committee on electoral matters.
Bar. Sylvester Okonkwo, Chief of Staff (CoS) to Akpabio, who represented the Senate President, stressed that NASS is ready to work with anyone that is interested in the development and progress of the nation.
He said, “This event gives us the opportunity to reinforce the trust and mandate given by our people to us. This is an occasion targeted at addressing the crucial matter which the leadership of the National Assembly consider very weighty. It is a very weighty matter that must be addressed for our democratic journey to positively move forward.
“As representatives of the people, citizens engagement at all levels is crucial to our democratic process, and the 10th National Assembly intends to place engagements and precedents as priority.
“For the electoral process we’re committed not only to go along with the people on the call for reforms for the electoral legal framework at the same time protect the independence of INEC, and also restore the trust of our people in the electoral process.
“We cannot truly achieve this objective in isolation. All stakeholders most of who are represented here today must be doggedly involved in this.
“Therefore my appeal to all of you and those that are not here is to join hands, let us do this together and change the fortune of our democratic process, for the good of our country, because history will record every move we make to move this country forward.
“As you can see the committee in the senate and the House of Representatives have approached this process in a way that will be most beneficial especially in terms of completing this process within a reasonable time frame. I also noticed that collaborations and consultations have kicked off. Collaborating with Yiaga Africa and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as partners are steps in the right direction.
“I’m also aware that members of the National Assembly committee on election matters had a retreat in Lagos two weeks ago, facilitated by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre. I was informed that the communique for the retreat will be matched with the outcome from this Citizens Town Hall as input to the expected electoral reform.
He added, “You’ll agree with me that within just a very short period of time, after inauguration, the joint committee has started very well.
“The leadership of the National Assembly will give full support to the committee in achieving its objectives.
“I cannot end this speech without emphasizing that the National Assembly and this administration is ready to work with anyone that is interested in the development and progress of this nation, not only on the issue of electoral reforms but also in formulating legislative initiative and policies that will revamp our economy and put us on the driving seat of industrial and economic advancement with all the positive efforts and pragmatic approach to issues that matter.
“This Renewed Hope will be a reality and a step to moving this country forward.
“I want to say that time has come for all of us to be positive about our country. It doesn’t do us any good as a country that each time we talk, we talk about our negatives. Let us also create time to talk about the great achievements that are being made and will continue to be made for the betterment of our country,” he added.
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