Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Judiciary has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the nation’s judiciary to stand up in defence of democracy ahead of the Feb 25 and March 11 elections.

Bamidele made the call in Abuja, on Wednesday during a one-day special hearing on “The extent of implementation of the Electoral Act, 2022 ahead of the conduct of the 2023 general election”.

The session was organised by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with support from the Policy and Legal Advocacy Center (PLAC) and the United Kingdom (UK).

Bamidele, also the Chairman, Southern Senators Forum, while tasking other stakeholders on the same vain said that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the elections are conducted as scheduled.

He said that the nation is at crossroads; and all stakeholders must stand up in defence of our democracy declaring that two stakeholders stand out, INEC to stand on its feet and do its best and the judiciary.

His reason being that when the political class has come to hold the nation to ransom as it appears now, it is the judiciary that has to stand up and save the nation from the jugular of the political class.

Bamidele also suggested that the National Assembly needs to rework the electoral act to ensure that grey areas are addressed.

Secretary to INEC, Mrs May Agbamuche, spoke on behalf of Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. She said that the commission had no intention whatsoever to postpone the elections.

According to her, INEC has already carried out 12 steps out of 14 listed to conduct the elections. She said the commission would conduct free, fair, credible and transparent elections.