2019 Polls: Senate Adopts Reps Amendment Of The Electoral Act

…As Some Pro-Buhari Senators Raise Objection

BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – Some pro-President Muhammadu Buhari Senators, numbering less than ten, on Wednesday raised objections to the alteration of the sequence of elections, saying that the move is targeted at the President.

In spite of their protests through points of Order, the Senate still had its way by adopting the joint conference committee report of the National Assembly with regards to the 2010 Electoral Act as amended.

The amendment which was adopted through voice vote which carried an overwhelming majority, witnessed about 10 Senators attempted to kick against the sequence of elections which seek to place the Presidential elections taking place last.

The new amendment now places the National Assembly elections first and to be followed by the State governorship and legislative elections next.

The development followed the consideration of the report on a Bill for an Act to amend the Electoral Act No. 6, 2010 and Electoral Act (Amendment) Act 2015 which seeks to alter timeline for submission of list of candidates, political party primaries and use of technological devices among others.

While presenting the report of the Joint Conference of the National Assembly, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Suleiman Nazif, said the Committee recommended that the Senate and the House of Representatives do consider and approve the conference committee report on a bill for an act to amend the electoral Act No. 6, 2010 and electoral (Amendment) Act 2015.”

Nazif further said that the Electoral Act No 6, 2010 amendment bill 2017 was passed by the senate on March 30, 2017 and the House of Representatives on Feb. 1, 2018, adding however that there are some differences noticed in the two versions of the bill as passed by both chambers.

According to him; “A conference committee was constituted in the Senate on Wednesday, Janaury 4, 2018 and the House of Representatives on Wednesday Jan. 24, 2018 to reconcile areas of difference that appeared in the two versions. The committee met and deliberated on the two versions of the bill.

“After exhaustive deliberations, the committee noticed seven areas of differences in section 36 (3), 49(2), 53(2), 63(4), 78(4).”

Nazif also said that the committee in considering the House version with particular reference to sections 25(1) and 8 (9A, a and b) dealing with sequence of elections and political parties primaries, unanimously adopted the provisions in its entirety to ensure orderliness.

However, in his contribution, Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC-Kano), who came under point of order 87(c)), said that while he appreciates the concern of the opinion of both sides.

Gaya said the Senate standing Rule 87 (c), stipulates that the conference committee shall deliberate only between the Senate and the House of Representatives.

According to him; “The conference committee shall not insert in its report, any matter not committed to it by either the Senate or the House of Representatives. Mr President, this report on sequence of elections was never discussed in the Senate. So why are we bringing it here.”

In supporting Gaya, former governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu raised a Constitutional Point of Order specifically Section 76 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

Adamu said that based on the provisions of the constitution it is clear that election to each houses of the National Assembly shall be held on the date to be appointed by INEC.

While ruling on the point of order raised, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki said; “As I keep on emphasising, institutions are what are important. As senators, we have to finish our time and go. We must continue to strengthen institutions and by so doing, we must follow the procedures that are also laid at all times.

“For the conference report, it has been the procedure and as such, with all due respect, I have to rule you out of order.

“I know that every politics is local, but as much as it is local, we also have to maintain the integrity of these institutions,” Saraki enthused.