Senate orders INEC to conclude pending elections.

Our correspondent JAMES IGAH reports that the directive to INEC followed a motion moved by Deputy Senate President, IKE EKWEREMADU.

Senator EKWEREMADU observed that the failure BY INEC to conduct rerun elections within the time frame ordered by elections petition tribunals was in breach of the Electoral Act and the 1999 constitution.

Senator EKWEREMADU also argued that the development was a threat to Nigeria’s democracy, just as he complained that elections conducted by INEC so far have left much to be desired.

He said the trend has left both chambers of the National Assembly and some state legislative houses without the full complement of their membership.

Senator EKWEREMADU further lamented that following the development, millions of Nigerians are left without representation in the various legislative houses, contrary to provisions of the constitution.

The PDP Senator also expressed concern that INEC would not be able to function efficiently without the right number of personnel.
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In its resolution on the motion; the Senate urged President MUHAMMADU BUHARI to immediately nominate qualified persons to fill vacant positions in INEC.

The Senators also agreed to set up an ad-hoc committee to conduct public hearing to review the performance of INEC in the last one year.

The Senate investigation is to determine the factors that may have affected the operations of the electoral commission.