Abuja — If the House of Representatives harmonises the amended Electoral Act in line with the Senate's and also with the timely release of funds , a new voters' registration exercise may commence October. This is just as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it is favourably disposed to a January date for elections, come 2011.

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega stated this yesterday while playing host to the leadership of the NLC and Coalition of Civil Society Leaders at the INEC headquarters.

He spoke on the flaws of the 2006 Electoral Act, pointing out that the Act as presently constituted provided a tight time frame for the renewal of a new voters' register.

Jega expressed optimism over the amended Electoral Act as passed by the Senate, saying it took into consideration the time constraint concern as expressed by the commission, and that going by the Senate's resolution, there would now be ample time, if the Bill is harmonised with the House of Representatives' and funds are made available to it the second week of October at the latest, to commence the new voters' registration exercise late October.

He said if the required funds were made available, he envisaged that by November the exercise would have been over, while cleansing of the register and its display ought to have been done by December 9, for prospective elections in January.

Prof Jega, reiterating the commission's commitment to having a fresh voters' register that would address the inadequacies of the past, promised that the new one would form the basis for future credible elections in the country.

The INEC chairman said he was willing to partner with all stakeholders in the bid to instil the culture of free and fair elections that would have the acceptability of all, just as he pointed out that the commission had taken stock of its activities and hence was poised for reorganisation, restructuring and repositioning for greater efficiency and service.

Speaking at the event earlier, NLC president, Abdulwaheed Omar, while asking for the quick release of funds for INEC , asked the National Assembly to quickly pass the amended Electoral Act, just as he tasked Jega not to let the nation down, as there was great trust reposed in him and the present INEC leadership.

Throwing the weight of the NLC behind the January date for possible elections, he urged the leadership of the INEC to squarely tackle the challenges confronting it, as Nigerians were eager for free and fair elections.

He pledged the support of Labour and other civil society organisations to the Jega-led administration, advising the INEC chairman to embark on a fresh registration of voters, as the past voters' register had lost credibility before Nigerians.

Others present at the event included the representatives of the physically challenged persons in Nigeria, Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE), civil societies organisations and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), amongst numerous others.