Politics
Group Wants New Electoral Act In January
A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has urged the National Assembly to strive towards passing the Electoral Amendment Bill in January, ahead of the 2023 general poll.
The spokesperson for the group and Executive Director, NESSACTION Ms Eniola Cole, said this yesterday while briefing newsmen in Abuja, urging the lawmakers to ensure the bill was passed in their first sitting in 2021 for President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent.
Cole said that the coalition was made up of five CSOs- Centre For Liberty, Yiaga Africa, Raising New Voices, NESSACTION and Citizenship Advocacy Africa.
She urged the National Assembly to do everything within its powers to ensure that the bill was passed in record time for presidential assent before the start of electioneering processes for Anambra governorship election in 2021.
“Having missed the much anticipated December target, the need to have the electoral bill passed and signed in January has become imperative.
“This is most instructive, so that it can be tested and used in good time for the 2021 Anambra governorship election,” she said.
Cole commended the massive turn out of Nigerians, quality presentations, suggestions and submission of memoranda at the public hearing on the Electoral Act Amendment bill.
She said that the action was a demonstration of citizens’ eagerness to have free and credible elections in the country in the nearest future.
“As we anticipate the announcement of the date and time table for the Anambra election any moment from now, we must take cognisance of lawful need to have the new Electoral Act 2021 in place.
“The new Electoral Act 2021 (Independent National Electoral Commission Act 2021) should be in place, before the commencement of the implementation of the timetable,” she said.
Cole said that the coalition was impressed by National Assembly’s efforts in organising the public hearing in the early part of December.
“We also appreciate the lawmakers for giving civil society organisations and partners, the opportunity to present their memos, so as to give Nigerians hope for early passage of the bill in 2021.
“All we seek is an enduring electoral reforms that will address the deficits in the electoral system.
“Reforms that will among other things; provide for electronic transmission and publication of results, full biometrics for accreditation, conduct of general elections in one day and election finance reform.
“Reforms that will eliminate statutory delegates, ensure women and youths representation, as well as other important suggestions contained in our memoranda to the National Assembly,” she said
Cole urged the National Assembly to see the process as an opportunity to entrench enduring electoral reforms and strengthen the capacity of INEC to conduct free, fair and credible elections to guarantee electoral integrity.
“We believe that the way this process is handled is very critical to improving level of trust and confidence of citizens in the democratic process.
“The national assembly must do everything to reclaim the trust of Nigerians in the electoral processes,” she added.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.
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