The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Abbas Tajudeen, says the Nigerian Government is committed to free, fair and credible general elections in 2027, stating that the House is providing stronger legislative backing for the democratic process.
Speaker Abbas made this known when he hosted a delegation from the International Republican Institute (IRI) on a courtesy call at his office in Abuja.
The Speaker, who was represented by the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, recalled how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called to congratulate Governor Ademola Adeleke, who was the candidate of the opposition Accord Party in the recent governorship election in Osun State, for winning the poll even before his victory speech.
The Speaker noted that the election had been widely acclaimed as successful despite initial fears. “It simply shows that our democracy is growing,” Speaker Abbas said while commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for supervising the exercise.
While the Speaker described the reported violence before the election as painful, he expressed hope that such would not be recorded before the 2027 general elections.
The Speaker emphasised that electoral reforms are still ongoing, highlighting that the implementation of regulatory laws is another hurdle to be crossed.
While speaking in favour of the direct primary mode, Speaker Abbas said it allows for the emergence of popular candidates. “Let’s allow every card-carrying member of a political party to participate in a primary,” he said.
The Speaker also noted how communities rotate legislative seats to address issues of local representation, which often leads to a high turnover of lawmakers in the parliament.
“We have tried as much as possible to strengthen INEC,” the Speaker said while stating that, “There are still a lot of issues concerning democratising political space. We are doing our best here. We are doing everything possible to strengthen institutions.”
Speaker Abbas also decried the low representation of women in the parliament, saying there are only 15 women among the 360 members of the House and four among the 109 senators.
“In the House, we are very strong in pushing for what is called ‘special seats for women,’” he said.
The Speaker stressed the need to democratise the political space to create equal opportunities in politics and participation in government.
Responding to a question on security ahead of the general elections, the Speaker said safety is one of the major considerations ahead of the polls.
On public access to the parliament, Speaker Abbas stated that “this House of Reps particularly has been more open to the public and civil society than any before it.”
Speaker Abbas called for more public education on democracy and its institutions, especially the National Assembly.
He decried the misconception about the parliament, saying, “In the eyes of the public, the National Assembly is working when it is in conflict with the Executive arm of the government.”
He, however, stated that Nigeria has achieved more through cooperation and collaboration between the Legislature and the Executive.
