Conference of Speakers Reaffirms Commitment to Electoral Reforms, As Chairman Hosts KDI Delegation in Ibadan

The Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria and Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Conference to driving critical electoral reforms aimed at deepening democratic governance across the country.

Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin stated this on Wednesday, 29th October 2025, while receiving a delegation from the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) at his office in the Assembly Complex, Secretariat, Ibadan.

The Conference Chairman reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of State Legislatures across Nigeria to the reform priorities presented, along with other critical electoral reforms aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and deepening the nation’s democratic process.

He stressed the strategic role of state legislatures in advancing constitutional and electoral reforms, noting that the Conference of Speakers remains open to progressive ideas that will strengthen democratic institutions, improve electoral credibility, and promote citizen confidence in the political process.

“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. This engagement is timely and necessary. As lawmakers, we must ensure that our electoral laws are not only robust but also reflective of the evolving democratic aspirations of our people.”

The high-level meeting was also attended by the Majority Leader of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin; Hon. Olajide Akintunde Emmanuel, Member representing Lagelu State Constituency; and Hon. Kehinde Olatunde Taofik, Member representing Akinyele II State Constituency.

The KDI delegation, led by its Executive Director, Mr. Bukola Idowu, included Miss Gbemisola Adebowale, Senior Program Officer, and Mr. Gboyega Adebowale, Oyo State Coordinator.

Mr. Bukola Idowu presented five priority reform areas before the Chairman of Conference of Speakers.

The reform priorities include 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.

In his remarks, Mr. Idowu underscored the urgency of the proposed reforms.

“These proposals are the result of extensive civic engagement and reflect the collective demand for a more credible and inclusive electoral system. We believe the Conference of Speakers has a pivotal role to play in advancing these reforms through legislative action.”

A high point of the meeting was the formal presentation of Kimpact Development Initiative’s reform priorities in document form to the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly and Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Rt. Hon Adebo Ogundoyin.