The Senate on Wednesday vehemently turned down President Muhammdu Buhari’s Bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act, 2022 which he recently signed into law.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that the Bill which was titled: ‘A Bill for an Act to amend the Electoral Act 2022 and for related matters, 2022,’ was overwhelmingly rejected by Senators, a development that effectively stopped its second reading.
The Bill was thrown out on Wednesday during plenary by the legislators.
Recall that the Bill had on Tuesday scaled first reading despite a court order stopping the Senate from acting on it.
The President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan had challenged the Court order saying that the Judiciary cannot in any circumstances stop the Legislature from performing its constitutional duties.
Read Also: Senate Moves To Amend Electoral Act, Despite Court Ruling
Prior to the commencement of consideration of the Bill on Wednesday, Senator Adamu Aliero, APC, Kebbi while citing order 52(5) of the Senate Standing Rules, urged the President of the Sebate to throw away the proposed action on the Bill.
But Lawan who was however adamant, reiterated his position that only Senators may reject the Bill and not the judiciary seeking to stop the chamber from performing its lawful duties through an order.
Senators however voted overwhelmingly against the Bill to stop it from being read a second time.
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday wrote the House of Representatives, seeking amendment to the Electoral Act he recently assented to.
Specifically, the President is requesting that section 84 (12) of the Act, which prescribes resignation of appointees of government seeking to run for political office 30 days before the convention of any political party.
The sections states: ‘No political appointee at any level shall be voting delegate or be voted for at the Convention or Congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.’
Africa Daily News, New York recalls that while assenting to the bill on February 25, 2022, President Buhari pointed out that the section was inconsistent with a relevant section of the constitution.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
