National Assembly Made Credible Polls Possible

Onwuka Nzeshi

4 May 2011

House of Representatives Tuesday formally endorsed the just concluded general elections but attributed the successes recorded in terms of credibility of the polls to the legislative foundation laid in the passage of the Electoral Act 2010 by the National Assembly.

Both local and foreign observers who monitored the elections have adjudged the exercise as free, fair and a great improvement on the past.

The legislative endorsement came just as the lower chamber of the National Assembly observed a minute silence in honour of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and other citizens who lost their lives in the wake of the post-election violence in Kaduna and Bauchi states.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, said the National Assembly deserved special commendation because the successful conduct of the elections “has vindicated our determination to ensure free, fair and credible elections” as articulated in the new Electoral Act.

Bankole, who lost in the bid to renew his mandate at the National Assembly elections advised all those who lost at the various elections to accept the verdict of the electorate in good faith and move on with their lives. Addressing lawmakers as they resumed from the election break yesterday, Bankole commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the electorate for the conduct of the elections. He said that though the elections were fraught with some irregularities as well as some initial setbacks, the exercise was successful but still left room for improvement.

According to him, the electorate exhibited an uncommon sense of commitment and enthusiasm and deserved commendations for their faith in the democratic process.

In a tribute to those who died in the post election violence, Bankole conveyed the condolence of the parliament to the families of the slain corps members describing the violence that erupted in some parts of the country after the presidential election as unfortunate.

He assured the bereaved families of the preparedness of the House to provide “whatever legislative intervention” necessary to prevent a re-occurrence of such political violence.

Bankole pledged that over the remaining four weeks before the expiration of the sixth session of the National Assembly, the House will endeavour to focus attention on important bills pending before it. Some of the legislations that will enjoy priority attention, THISDAY learnt include the Petroleum Industry Bill and the Evidence

Act (Amendment) Bill. He urged the lawmakers to work even harder in order to fast track the consideration and passage of the outstanding bills so as to make a lasting impact on the socio-political and economic landscape of the Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the House is to set up a transition committee inpreparation for a smooth handover to the next parliamentary session.

Following the results of the general elections, only about a hundred members of the current House will return to the Green Chamber when the seventh session of the National Assembly will be inaugurated in the next four weeks.

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