Electoral laws alone cannot guarantee credible elections — Omo-Agege

Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, has said electoral laws alone cannot guarantee credible elections.

He said a sustainable electoral process was only possible if it was founded on an adequate electioneering culture.

Omo-Agege said this at the public presentation and inaugural meeting of the Electoral Hub, in Abuja, FCT.

Represented by Dr Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Legal and Constitutional Matters, Omo-Agege said, “No matter how good the clauses were in the electoral laws, if the other aspects of the electioneering process were flawed, the electoral process itself will ultimately be flawed.

“While there have been many more issues in our electoral history, it seems to me that if we have had adequate and unambiguous clauses, plus adequate advocacy, understanding and the will to comply, we would have had less controversies, fewer post-election court cases and generally, a more credible electoral process.

“This is to say that we need adequate and generally acceptable rules of engagement in the electioneering process. I refer to how candidates emerged on party platforms, campaign rally rules and generally political actions toward a fair and credible political participation by voters.

“I am glad, for instance, that the National Assembly is now dealing with the issue of direct primaries.”

Omo-Agege stressed the need to join hands to work out an electoral system that would not only agree with global best practice, but make Nigeria a stronger nation.