Senate President Godswill Akpabio has announced plans to amend the 2022 Electoral Act to allow statutory delegates to participate in political parties’ primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections. Akpabio made the disclosure on Monday while receiving the National Leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja.
Describing the exclusion of statutory delegates from party primaries in the 2022 Electoral Act as a “costly mistake,” Akpabio emphasized the need to correct the oversight before the next round of general elections. Statutory delegates, who include elected officials and party leaders, play a crucial role in the selection of candidates during party primaries.
“The omission of statutory delegates from the primaries of political parties in the 2022 Electoral Act was a costly mistake that must be corrected before the next round of general elections,” Akpabio stated.
The Senate President also used the opportunity to address issues within the legal profession, urging the NBA to take decisive action against quacks. He expressed concern over the presence of unqualified individuals posing as legal practitioners, including some who claim to be senior members of the bar without being called to the bar.
“The NBA must weed out quacks from the legal profession. Some of these individuals are among very senior members of the bar who were never called to the bar,” Akpabio admonished.
In his remarks, NBA National President Afam Osigwe (SAN) called for justice sector reforms as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process. He emphasized the need for the National Assembly to address critical issues affecting the legal system to ensure fairness, efficiency, and accountability.
The meeting between the Senate President and the NBA leadership highlights the importance of collaboration between the legislative and legal sectors in addressing key national issues. The proposed amendment to the Electoral Act and the call for justice sector reforms are expected to feature prominently in the National Assembly’s agenda in the coming months.
