Senate suspends Electoral Act’s amendment

The Senate on Wednesday suspended the consideration of a Bill to amend the Electoral Act 2010, due to the inability of the lawmakers to reach a consensus on Section 36(1) which relates to the Kogi State governorship election matter.

The ‎senators made their decision known during a clause-by-clause consideration of the report submitted by the Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on the amendment of the Electoral Act.

Section 36 (1) reads: “where a nominated candidate dies before the announcement of the result, the next person from the same party with the highest number of legal votes in the primary election shall be submitted to the commission.”

Majority of the senators however objected to the position of the clause, saying it would elicit litigation.

On his part, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, suggested that‎ the Section be amended to cover the lacuna of an unopposed candidate.

Other senators, who opposed the clause, Senators Bayero Nafada‎, Eyinannya Abaribe and Ovie Omo-agege stated a case of disruption of zoning as against political parties’ agreement, adding that the amendment of the Section should also consider such matter.

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