Electoral act should be signed 12 months to election- Ibrahim Zailani

Barrister Ibrahim Zailani is a former House of Representatives member, who represented Toro Federal Constituency from 1999-2003 and former Attorney General of Bauchi State. In this interview, the former lawmaker shares his view on the ongoing electoral act amendment.

There appears to be delay in the ongoing amendment of the electoral bill. What’s your view?

Electoral Act or law review should be a continuous process and not a one off thing. This way, contemporary flaws or issues would be identified and addressed, especially in this digital age of modern electronics systems and even Artificial Intelligence, which if properly deployed will ensure fair and credible elections.

What happens in developed entities is that as soon as elections are concluded, experts are appointed to review the whole process’ adequacy or otherwise of election materials, delivery/logistics, role of staff, role of security agencies, conduct of voters at polling units, collation of results, announcement of results etc. They are documented together with recommendations to the electoral body which in turn submit its recommendations to the legislature for amendment of the electoral law against the next general elections. This will include a recommendation on how to abridge process for a more transparent and effective voter confidence and general acceptable conclusions.

It is imperative that a new Electoral Act, 2026, should be in place 12 months ahead of the next election. If the bill for the amendment of the Electoral Act,2022 is not yet passed and signed into law,it is regrettable and unfortunate. All the players in the electoral process like INEC, candidates etc should know the requirements of the law and their expected roles.

Should decision on the bill be taken at an executive session of the Senate or at plenary?

The process of law making should be in the open, participatory and in the full glare of the public. I have never, throughout my experience in the National Assembly, seen where and when laws are passed through executive session by the parliament. I think there is a wrong perception by the public on what executive session by the parliament is. Executive session is an avenue where parliament closes its doors against the public to discuss, examine and deliberate on issues exclusive to them. I will not subscribe to the opinion that executive session by the parliament is wrong. There is always an avenue provided by the parliament for participation by the public through public hearing. This is always encouraged in order to collate public opinion or even experts opinion on bills before passage into law.

What are the areas you want to draw the attention of the Senate to?

The major area I want the NASS to introduce in the proposed electoral law is the issue of holding all the elections in one day, not what is obtainable now; staggered into two; presidential/ NASS and gubernatorial/House of Assembly. This will be more cost effective as well as an antidote significantly to election manipulation, malpractice and rigging. All candidates will be busy with their own election without minding the other person’s. All the electoral umpire needs to do is to embark on voter education and enlightenment. It will succeed.

I also endorse full electronic voting, electronic result collation and instant results’ announcement.

The ruling party has the majority in both chambers of the National Assembly, yet there is this delay, what do you make of it?

I think the leadership of the APC needs to do more for its members to work as one.

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