President Buhari sets up Electoral Reform Panel; to be headed by former Senate President

President Muhammadu Buhari has constituted a 24-man committee to address perceived defects in Nigeria’s electoral laws and constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.

Reactions to the constitution of the committee, which is to be headed by a former Senate President, Dr. Ken Nnamani, were mixed as some stakeholders faulted its establishment on the grounds that the National Assembly was better positioned to review the constitution.

The Committee, which members were drawn from Civil Society Organisations, academia, legal profession, traditional institutions, as well as former legislators, would be inaugurated tomorrow by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

The AGF, in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Salisu Isah, said the Constitutional/ Electoral Reform Committee was set-up as part of effort by the Buhari-led administration to make processes better.

The statement read: “The Committee is expected to review the electoral environment, laws, and experiences from recent elections conducted in Nigeria and make recommendations to strengthen and achieve the conduct of free and fair elections in Nigeria.

“The former Senate President, Nnamani, was okayed to head the Committee, with an expectation that he would bring his wealth of experience to bear on the reform process.”

Dr. Mamman Lawal of Bayero University, Kano, would serve as the secretary, while other members include Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN, Dr. Clement Nwankwo, Chief A.C Ude and Mr. Tahir, the Director, Legal Drafting, Federal Ministry of Justice.