The Senate, yesterday, proposed the establishment of Nigerian political debates commission to strengthen the country’s democracy.
The move was sequel to a Bill tagged: “The Nigerian Political Debates Commission Bill 2015,” sponsored by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (APC, Oyo North).
Leading the debate, Buhari said that the bill proposed legislative backing for establishment of commission to organise and conduct debates for all candidates cleared by the INEC to participate in election into the offices of the president, vice president, governor and deputy governor of a state.
He said that if passed into law, the bill would strengthen the country’s democracy and bring it in conformity with the practice in other renowned democracies around the world.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna central), said that the establishment of the commission would address the intellectual deficiency in the country’s political discourse.
“Nigerian politicians are more interested in power than the application of power,” he said.
In his remarks, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said that if passed the bill would enable the electorate know the capacity of candidates fielded by political parties.
He referred the bill to the Senate Committee on INEC for further legislative actions.