The Senate on Wednesday, has raised alarm over inability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct National Assembly elections in states where elections were still pending.
This followed a point of order raised by Sen. Ben Bruce (PDP Bayelsa East) questioning why the commission had yet to conduct or elections in the six senatorial districts.
Senatorial elections that were annulled in six senatorial districts: three in Rivers state and one in Imo, Anambra and Kogi States, are yet to be concluded.
However, rerun elections which held in Rivers, Imo and Kogi were declared inconclusive by the commission while re-run in Anambra was yet to be conducted.
In his submission, Sen. Bruce held that all Nigerians should have equal representation in the national Assembly and as such it was not right for INEC to be delaying the re-runs further.
He said that it took INEC one week to conduct elections in the FCT but noted sadly that elections in the pending senatorial districts were still pending.
``INEC concluded elections in one week in FCT but in these states they had no representation here and it does not make any sense, It is a violation of the Constitution: the people of these states have a right to have representation here
``The INEC chairman owes us an explanation as to why these elections have not been concluded: It is a simple matter. It is the responsibility for INEC to conclude these elections so that the people of these beautiful states have representation here in the senate,” he said.
He prayed the Senate to summon the Chairman of the commission to come and explain to members of the red chamber at plenary.
In his remark, the Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremmadu who presided over plenary said that there would be no need to summon the commission boss at the time.
Ekweremmadu said that he was aware the commission was to hold a meeting on Thursday to deliberate on the pending elections and possibly fix a date for the re-run election.
However, he said that it was important that INEC conducted the pending elections as it was already running foul of constitutional provisions.
``It is important that you have raised it so that the nation will know that we are concerned about the non-representation of some of these states.
``It is clear in the Constitution that INEC should quickly conduct within 30days bye-elections where vacancies occur.
``It is far past 30 days where vacancies occurred in some places: it is important that we urged INEC to ensure that as soon as possible that these elections are conducted.
``This way, every part of the country, every states would have their full representation in the National Assembly,” he said.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, plenary began with a closed door session which lasted for about one hour.
Arising from the closed door, the DSP said that the session was to deliberate on the appropriation bill and the hope of signing of the bill by Mr President soon.
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