Against the background of impending elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states, the House of Representatives has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to fill the top vacancies in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The positions are Chairman, National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners.
The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion by a member, Hon. Edward Gyang Pwajok and the subsequent adoption of the prayers by members on the floor
Pwajok noted that there were reports in the media that the tenures of the National Commissioners of INEC have expired as at 10 August, 2015, save for tow of the Commissioners, and that the tenures of the Resident Electoral Commissioners have expired.
He said: “The INEC has critical constitutional functions conferred on it by the constitution which, amongst other things mandates INEC to organise elections for the offices of President, Vice President, Governor, Deputy Governor, National Assembly and State Assemblies membership, register Political Parties, monitor the organisation and operation of political parties, and the registration of voters, schedule the time frame within which elections and political party congresses/ primaries are to be held etc.
“The elections to the governorship of Kogi and Bayelsa States have been fixed for the 21 November, 2015 and 5th September, 2015 respectively and that the major political parties have slated their primaries to elect gubernatorial candidates for the last week of August 2015.”
The lawmaker expressed concern that INEC as presently is not properly constituted to carry out its constitutional functions of preparing for these elections, monitoring party congresses and updating register of voters.
According to him, section 159 (1) of the constitution 1999 as amended, one third of the members of the Commission forms a quorum, and thatINEC as constituted now has only two members which is less than a quorum.
He said the sensitive nature of the duties of the Commission requires the Chairman and the Commissioners to be appointed in good time so as to acquaint themselves with the operations of the commission to make for effectiveness.
According to Pwajok, “there may be legal issues in the activities of the Commission on account of the vacancies existing in the said offices.
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