The Senate has passed to the second reading a bill seeking to amend the Early Voting Act 2024.
Leading the debate before the Senate plenary on Thursday, the bill’s sponsor, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, representing Katsina Central, emphasized its critical importance.
He stated that the bill aims to enfranchise a significant group of Nigerians who, due to the nature of their duties on election days, are denied the opportunity to exercise their most fundamental democratic right—the right to vote.
He further explained that the bill seeks to introduce early voting into the Electoral Act 2022 to enhance inclusion, participation, and the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, as well as address related matters.
He said, “Due to the far-reaching nature of this bill, I crave your indulgence to extensively highlight its background, which I believe will not only provide proper context for this legislative initiative but also motivate this hallowed chamber to accelerate the legislative process in enacting it.”
Yar’adua added that in any democratic process, all citizens must be given equal opportunity to participate in elections, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, occupation, or socioeconomic status.
This ensures a true reflection of the people’s will, thereby enhancing the stability of the democratic process.
He said, “Unfortunately, a significant number of Nigerians who contribute to the success of the country’s elections are excluded from the crucial decision-making process of choosing their leaders through the ballot.”
He argued that over one million citizens who play critical roles in ensuring the smooth conduct of elections are disenfranchised.
The Senate, however, passed the bill to the second reading and forwarded it to the Senate Committee on Elections for further legislative review.
The committee is expected to report back in the coming weeks for further consideration.
Bashir M
