By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Senate on Wednesday approved an amendment to the Electoral Act, reducing the period within which the Independent National Electoral Commission is required to publish a notice of election from 360 days to 180 days.
The decision was taken during clause by clause consideration of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill after lawmakers adopted an amendment moved by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Tahir Monguno.
Senators, sitting as the Committee of the Whole, considered all 155 clauses of the bill and approved the legislation after adopting the committee’s report.
The session, which lasted about four and a half hours, was the only item on the Senate’s Order Paper for the day, following a valedictory session in honour of late former lawmaker, Okey Ezea.
The reduction in the election notice period is expected to give INEC more operational flexibility while still allowing political parties, candidates and other stakeholders adequate time to prepare ahead of elections.
