The Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, and Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, has reiterated the commitment of the conference to ensuring key electoral reforms that will enhance and deepen democratic governance, which will strengthen Nigeria’s political institutions.
Ogundoyin made this known during the hosting of a delegation from the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) in his office at the Assembly Complex, Secretariat, Ibadan, whereby he emphasised the dedication of state legislatures across the country to promoting reforms, aiding electoral credibility, transparency, and restoring citizens’ confidence in the political process.
The speaker said, “Our democracy must evolve in line with the expectations of the people. The Conference of Speakers is open to ideas that will strengthen our institutions and restore public confidence in the electoral process. As lawmakers, we must ensure that our electoral laws are robust and responsive to the people’s democratic aspirations.”
The KDI delegation, led by its Executive Director, Mr. Bukola Idowu, presented five key reform priorities to the Conference Chairman, which are the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission, timely transmission of election results, reform of INEC leadership selection process, resolution of pre-election disputes, and amendment of the continuous voter registration framework.
Mr. Idowu highlighted the importance of the proposed reforms, pointing to them as products of extensive civic engagement designed to build a more credible and inclusive electoral system. The meeting was attended by Oyo Assembly members, including Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin, Hon. Olajide Akintunde Emmanuel, and Hon. Kehinde Olatunde Taofik, and the highlight was the formal presentation of KDI’s reform document to the speaker.
Recently, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria called for collaboration with strategic partners to support the implementation and adoption of E-parliament in State Assemblies across the country.
Its Chairman, Ogundoyin, made the appeal in Abuja while delivering a keynote address during a one-day reflection session organised by the Conference in collaboration with its strategic partners – Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) and Engaged Citizens Pillar (ECP)
He, however, stressed the need for a unified digital platform to streamline legislative activities, improve data management, and facilitate communication among legislators, committees, and stakeholders.
According to him, the e-parliament will enhance transparency and accountability, improve citizens’ engagement and participation, streamline legislative processes, increase access to legislative information, among others.
Ogundoyin, while urging the strategic partners to join forces with the Conference of Speakers to drive the initiative, share expertise and resources to ensure successful implementation, expressed optimism about the potential for the e-parliament to transform the legislative landscape in Nigeria.
