IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 23, Issue 4, Ver. 1 (April. 2018) PP 09-14 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0837-2304010914 www.iosrjournals.org 9 | Page The National Assembly And The Electoral Reforms In Nigeria’s Fourth Republic Yusuf Abdu Yusuf 1,2 Kamarul Zaman Bin Haji Yusoff 1. Knocks Tapiwazengeni 1. 1. (School Of International Studies, COLGIS, Universiti Utara Malaysia). 2. (Department Of Public Administration, Bauchi State University, Gadau, Nigeria). Corresponding auther:Yusuf Abdu Yusuf Abstract This Paper Examines The Role Of National Assembly In The Electoral Reforms In The Fourth Republic. The History Of Elections In Nigeria Was Adjudged As Incredible And Often Disputed By International Observers And Opposition Parties. The Elections Conducted Since 1959 To 1999, And More Specifically The 2003 And 2007 Elections Remained The Same If Not Worse, However, It Motivated The Reform Of The Electoral System In The Nigerian Fourth Republic. This Study Using A Purposive Sampling And Interview Method Of Data Collection Has Revealed That NASS Has Played A Significant Role In Electoral Reforms. The Reform Focuses On The Electoral Body And The Laws Governing The Conduct Of Its Work. The Findings Reveal That The Electoral Reforms Have Improved The Performance Of INEC And Its Conduct Of Election Most Importantly In 2015. The Paper Concluded That Despite The Significant Changes Observed In The Recent Elections, There Are Still Lacuna Regarding Electoral Reform In The Constitution And The Electoral Acts, Therefore, The Paper Recommended That National Assembly Should Engage More On Uncompleted Agenda Of Electoral Reforms. Keywords: National Assembly, Electoral Reform, Fourth Republic, Electoral Act. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 22-03-2018 Date of acceptance: 07-04-2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. INTRODUCTION The Legislature Is An Important Institution In The Democracy (Wafmuk, 2017). Its Core Functions Are A Representation, Lawmaking,And Oversight Functions. In Order Topromote And Consolidate Democracy In Nigeria, The Legislature Has Significantly Engaged In Reforming The Legal Framework Of Elections In The Current Fourth Republic, This Is Evident In The 2010 Constitutional Amendment In Addition To The Amendment Of The Electoral Act In 2002, 2006 (Eagu, 2014). Nigeria Has Faced With Electoral Challenges In Its Political History, Prior To The Fourth Republic Specifically 1959 No Election Conducted And Gone Undisputed (Animashaun, 2010). Though, Except For 1993 And 2015 That Were Adjudged To Be Freest And Most Credible General Elections In The Country. The General Elections Of June 1993 Which Were Annulled By The Babangida Administration Was Considered The First Free And Fair Election In Nigeria After Independence (Ogwu, 2016). The 1999 Elections That Brought The First Democratic Government In The Fourth Republic Was Unarguably Disputed By The International Observers And Opposition Party As Incredible And Rigged Election (Ogwu, 2016). Similarly, The Subsequent Elections Of 2003, 2007 Were Flowed And Accused By Many Observers (Crisis Group: Africa Report, 2007). A Similar Event Happened In The 2011 Elections And No Changes Were Observed Despite Electoral Reform In 2006 And Subsequently 2010. Accordingly, In The Aftermath Of 2007 General Election Which Gives Power To The Late President Umaru Musa Yaradua, Who Admitted That The Challenges Of The Election Are A Nagging One In The Country And It Has Been Generating A Problem In Most Of The Country’s Elections Including That Of 2007 Which Produced Him (Okolie, 2010;Abah&Nwokwu, 2017). Therefore, In Responding To That Challenge He Constituted An Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) Chaired By Justice Uwais In 2007 To Look And Study The Problems Of Elections In Nigeria With A View To Providing Recommendations On How To Address The Challenges Bedeviling Elections In Nigeria. The Committee Has Successfully Submitted Its Report And Recommendations On How To Improve The Conduct Of Elections In Nigeria. Based On The Recommendations Submitted By ERC, The Late President Yar’adua Had Submitted Seven Executive Bills To The Legislature (Igwu, 2014). Since Then, The National Assembly (NASS) Has Given Its Priority In The Constitutional Amendment To Electoral Reform, This, In Addition To The Previous Act In 2002 And 2006 Produced By The NASS. The NASS Has Contributed In Strengthening