By Jude Owuamanam, Managing Editor, Northern Operations
Abuja (Sundiata Post) — The Constitution and Electoral Reform Committee, under the chairmanship of the former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, is expected in Jos, Plateau State, on Friday as part of the ongoing public hearing on the reforms of the electoral system in the country.
Director of Research, Strategic Planning and Documentation in the Office of Plateau State Governor, John Wade, told Sundiata Post in an interview in Jos that the Committee has chosen Jos as the centre for the North Central zonal public hearing.
Wade said that Plateau State, like other five states — Benue, FCT, Kogi, Kwara and Nasarawa — in the North-Central geopolitical zone is expected to mobilise, make an appearance and present its position paper at the public hearing.
“You may wish to recall the constitution of 25 members of the Constitution and Electoral Reform Committee, under the Chairmanship of Senator Ken Nnamani, GCON by the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on Tuesday 4th October 2016.
“The Committee has since commenced work and been touring different zones of the Federation. In the light of the letter of request to His Excellency, dated 9th February 2017, the Committee unanimously chose Jos as venue for the Public Hearing in the North-Central Zone, which commences from 9th to 11th March 2017,” he said.
Wade said that the committee as part of its terms of reference would review of the laws impacting elections (electoral system) in Nigeria and assess the impacts of these Acts and the adequacy for the administration of elections in Nigeria.
The Committee, he said, will also review the experiences of the 2015 General Elections; some judicial decisions on election petitions vis-à-vis conflicting judgments and make appropriate recommendations for improvement of the electoral laws in the light of international best practices on elections.
The DG, therefore, requested to interested parties and individuals to submit their position paper in soft and hard copies directly to his office for harmonisation and documentation.
banker of the day - FREE banker tips from experts