President Umaru Yar’Adua of Nigeria has said in Enugu, South East Nigeria, that electoral reform is the solution to the country’s problems. He noted that the on-going electoral reform was the panacea to the social ills of the country.
Yar’Adua, who was represented by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, urged the National Assembly to redouble its efforts in the process of amending the 1999 constitution and the Electoral Act.
The President had on assumption of office in May 2007 said that the election that brought him into power was faulty and set up a panel to review the electoral system.
The panel headed by a retired Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Mohammed Uwais, had submitted its report with remarkable changes to the Act and the Constitution which have assumed issues for national debate.
The President gave the assurance that the government would support the National Assembly’s effort to amend the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act.
Yar’Adua urged the Legislators to support the Executive in the fight against corruption, poverty, infrastructure deficit, insecurity and unemployment.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Senate President, Sen. David Mark, said the retreat was organised for self appraisal and to consider issues which needed urgent legislative attentions.
Source African Press Agency
