JUST IN: Bill To Amend Electoral Act Fails Second Reading
Today, Wednesday, 09 March 2022, the bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act, 2022 has failed to pass second reading at the Senate.
Recall that The President and Commander in Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari had written to the National Assembly (upper and lower legislative chambers) seeking amendment to Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, 2022 to give room for political office holders to serve as delegates.
According to the President, it was undemocratic to prevent political office holders from serving as delegates during conventions of political parties.
The bill was read the fist time on Tuesday amid controversy banning the amendment exercise by the Justice Inyang Ekwo-led Federal High Court.
Justice Ekwo ruled on the ex-parte application brought before the court by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he ruled that the Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives should not tamper with amendment of 84(12) of the Electoral Amendment Act.
But on Tuesday and Wednesday, Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan insisted that lawmaking was within the powers of the parliament, hence, nothing should prevent the legislative houses from making laws.
He urged the Senate leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi Abubakar to read the bill on Wednesday. The bill however, failed and by legislative processes, it won’t be read for the third time.
