2011: Reps approve April for polls

*As ANPP wants elections conducted same day

By Tordue Salem

ABUJA—The House of Representatives ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has approved 30 post-election days before the handover date in 2011, just as it adopted the 150 days recommended by the Muhammed Uwais’ Electoral Review Committee to allow time for judicial pronouncements on election litigations.

The 150-day, as contained in the Electoral Act, 2006 as amended, stands in juxtaposition to the 30-day minimum required for handover after elections would have been held in either March or April and the winners declared.

The 150-day post-election time frame for litigations as provided, though would not apply for the 2011 elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, could abide by the “upper limit” of 150-day in subsequent elections.

The sections up for amendment are: 5, 10, 11 and 17 of the Electoral Act, 2006 (or 2010), as earlier enacted by the National Assembly.

Chairman of Ad hoc Committee is Deputy Speaker, Usman Nafada. Other principal members of the committee are the leader of the House, Tunde Akogun, Chief Whip Emeka Ihedioha, Minority Leader, Muhammed Ndume, Reps Jerimon Manwe, Sada Soli, Ishaku Bawa, M.C. Tahir and others.

Besides, the All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, through its National Chairman, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, wanted all elections, from the Presidency to councillorship, held on the same day.

“We in the ANPP believe that if this is not seriously addressed, it will weaken the interest of Nigerians in the electoral process. We need to ensure that only those who are the choice of the people are declared winners of elections. It is our conviction that conducting elections on the same day will greatly reduce cost for INEC since the number of elections will be reduced from three to one. The funds to be saved in the process can be used in providing better infrastructure needed by Nigerians,” Onu said.