The Senate has rejected a request made by President Muhammadu Buhari to expunge Clause 84(12) of the Amended Electoral Act.
In a unanimous voice vote on Wednesday, the lawmakers disagreed with a motion that the bill be read and considered for a second time.
While a few lawmakers were of the opinion that the bill be reconsidered, the majority opposed the bill.
Putting the deliberation to a vote, those who opposed the bill were more than those who
consented it.
In response, Senate President Ahmed Lawan ruled against the bill.
What happened during plenary
Senator Adamu Aliero (APC Kebbi) cited order 52 (5) of the senate standing rule. He appealed to the Senate president to throw away the proposed action on the Bill.
Speaking on the president’s request, the Senate President said, “For us to be specific to this particular request, the request was duly done and it is for us in the Senate to look at the request.
“We are at liberty to review the request, see if the arguments from the Executive are convincing enough. If the arguments are not convincing enough, members of the National Assembly could deny the request and that is how it is.
“I think we are not breaching any law. In fact, we are trying to promote democracy by doing this because one day someone would go to court and say the Senate and National Assembly should not sit.”
He then asked lawmakers to put the deliberation to a vote for or against the amendment of the bill.
In a unanimous voice, a resounding Nay filled the chamber.
What you should know
- On Tuesday, the bill for amendment scaled first reading despite the court order stopping the Senate from effecting changes on it.
- Yesterday the senate had insisted on going ahead with amending the electoral bill. However, the Majority of the lawmakers rejected the request to amend the bill today.
Backstory
- The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had brought an ex-parte application before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federation high court, Abuja division seeking an order of interim injunction restraining President Buhari, AGF and senate president from refusing to implement the duly signed Electoral Act.
- Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the order on Monday and restrained the defendants in the suit from altering the Electoral Act.
- PDP had also sought an order of the court restraining the National Assembly from effecting President Buhari’s request to remove section 84 (12) from the Electoral Act.
- In response to the court order, the senate president during Tuesday’s plenary said that with the Nigerian system of governance, all arms of government are not supposed to meddle into the activities of another.
- Mr Lawan said, “The Judiciary under no circumstance can stop the legislature, the National Assembly from performing its legislative duties. We know what our due processes are. Just like we won’t venture in what the Judiciary does, the Judiciary should understand that we have our processes.”
- He said It was within the exclusive right of the senate to consider whatever request they receive from Nigerians either from Executive or private member bill.