He called for the setting up of a panel to prosecute offenders to serve as a deterrent to others.

Also, a onetime Military Governor of Katsina State, and a Senator in the Third Republic, Retired. Col. Isa Kachako, said it was a disgrace to Nigeria to deploy military during elections.

In Jigawa, INEC Head of Voters Education and Publicity, Alhaji Surajo Kore, called on civil society organisations to assist in voters’ enlightenment and mobilisation, to ensure a successful election in 2015.

Kore said that INEC was fully prepared for the next year’s elections because people were fully mobilised and voters’ cards were also distributed.

In his contribution, a legal practitioner in Dutse, Mr Muktar Usman, said that the only way to ensure a credible election was people should be allowed to vote and stay around the polling centres for their votes to be counted in their presence.

He rejected the idea of deploying military personnel to supervise election, stressing that they would not help in anything.

A legal practitioner in Bauchi State, Malam Isma’ila Idris, said unless the bill for further amendment of the electoral act was passed, the situation would not augur well for the people who were expecting changes.

He added that time was running out, therefore, the lawmakers should understand the importance of the act and pass the bill for it to be a reference guide to the general elections.

Reports from Enugu State indicated that political parties decried the non-existence of special tribunal to try electoral offenders.

The state Chairman of Kowa party, Mr Chinedu Anuche, said that establishment of such tribunals would discourage electoral malpractice and violence in Nigeria.

The chairman, however, commended election observers for their roles in promoting democracy and governance in the country

He said that their recommendations had contributed to some of the electoral reforms in the country.

The chairman called for more collaboration among INEC, political parties and security agencies

Also, the Secretary of the PDP, Mr Steve Oruruo, said the delay in the passage of the act would not disrupt the 2015 elections.

“With the quality of administration that I have seen under Prof Attahiru Jega, we are hitting standardisation.“

Religious organisations, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno, also expressed the view that politicians should avoid rancour by playing politics according to the rules.

Borno CAN chairman, Rev. Titus Pona, told NAN: “Politicians should play a fair game of politics without bitterness with one another.’’

On the state of preparedness by the police, the Borno Police boss, Mr Clement Adoda, said that the command was ready to provide a level playing ground to all political stakeholders.

Adoda warned politicians against thuggery political recklessness usually associated with electioneering in some parts of the country.

The recurring issue of the passage of the electoral law played out in Osun when a lawmaker, Abiodun Awolola, said the delay would not have any effect on the 2015 general elections,

Awolola, a member of Osun House of Assembly, said that although the elections were fast approaching, the law could not be implemented immediately if finally passed before the conduct of the elections.

“Even if the bill is passed, it will not have any effect on the election because its implementation will not start immediately.’’