Members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) threw their support behind the proposed House of Representative bill that limits the role of the military in future elections in Nigeria today.
Prof. Attahiru Jega, who is the INEC Chairman, spoke at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja during the one-day public hearing on the bill to amend the Electoral Act 2010.
The much-touted public hearing was organized by the Jerry Manwe–led House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters.
Aminu Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who attended the hearing, promised that the bill was to ensure a “level playing ground for all participants” in future elections in the country.
The National Assembly had sought the insertion of a new paragraph (b) in the Section 29 (1) of the Electoral Act to limit the role of the military to “securing the distribution and delivery of electoral materials.” Nothing more.
Speaking on the insertion of the new paragraph, as well as other proposed amendments, Jega said giving the commission the statutory power to manage security forces during elections would help to "sanitize" the nation’s electoral processes.