The National Assembly is appealing to Nigerians to prioritize the upcoming Town Hall meeting in Abuja on electoral reforms, assuring that all decisions made during the meeting will be fully implemented.
Hon. Bayo Balogun, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on INEC, gave this assurance in a monitored interview in Lagos, stating that preparations have been made for a successful forum.
The proposed Citizens Town Hall on Electoral Reforms, scheduled to take place at Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotels in Abuja, aims to bring together all stakeholders to discuss how to improve the Electoral Act and address shortcomings in the country’s electoral process.
Balogun explained that similar exercises organized by the National Assembly in the past resulted in the introduction of the Card Reader and BVAS, which are now used during elections in the country.
The forum will critically examine complaints from Nigerians that INEC currently has too many responsibilities and should be unbundled for improved performance.
When asked about whether the President should appoint the INEC Chairman, Balogun recalled that Prof. Attahiru Jega was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was defeated in the 2015 Presidential poll.
Balogun also highlighted the importance of internal democracy within political parties, stating that many party crises stem from a lack of it, particularly during primary elections.
Regarding the purchase of SUV cars for members of the National Assembly, Balogun stated that the matter has been politicized and clarified that they are yet to receive the vehicles. He emphasized that lawmakers, like workers, deserve the necessary tools to carry out their duties.
Balogun also discussed his efforts in the Ibeju Lekki Federal Constituency, where he has empowered residents through poverty alleviation projects and other interventions.
He urged Nigerians to actively participate in the political process and send memoranda expressing their views to the committee. He emphasized that the role of the National Assembly is to make laws and ensure the provision of basic infrastructure by the Executive, such as roads, housing, education, and healthcare.
Balogun praised the 2023 General Elections, stating that they were difficult for politicians to manipulate and rig due to the use of BVAS. He also mentioned that the National Assembly is working to combat vote-buying during elections, noting that it occurs not only on the day of elections.
He advised Nigerians not to blame the courts for removing some elected officials, as some were sacked due to their parties’ failure to follow due process in conducting primaries.
Balogun acknowledged that the current voter register used by INEC, with about 87 million PVCs distributed to voters, started in 2006. However, he mentioned that the figure is inflated due to duplicate registrations, deaths, and relocations.
The INEC register is being reviewed to clean it up, and Balogun estimates that there will be around 40 million registered voters at the end of the process. He noted that the 25 million voters who participated in the 2023 general elections were the highest in the nation’s history.
The Town Hall Meeting will be held in different geopolitical zones in the country to ensure the participation of traditional rulers, market women, and others.
Balogun concluded by acknowledging the widespread hunger and poverty in the country but assured that the federal government is addressing these issues, and positive results will be seen soon.
