Politics
Court voids moves by lawmakers to re-order election timetable
A Nigerian court on Wednesday, presided over by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, voided moves by the legislative arm of government to re-order the nation’s election timetable.
In nullifying clause 25 section 15 of the electoral amendment bill, the court also ruled that the National Assembly lacked the powers to override the actions of INEC.
The National Assembly in a bill it recently sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent, which he declined, sought to re–order the 2019 election sequence.
In a bid to stop them, the Accord Party had filed a suit before the court, challenging the lawmakers’ move to alter the order of elections after INEC had announced dates for elections.
In its ruling on the matter, Justice Mohammed held, “I am persuaded by argument of the plaintiff that it is the sole responsibility of the 3rd defendant (INEC) to conduct elections, and further in doing so, the 3rd defendant has the power to fix dates for elections.”
Noting that the move came after INEC had already released its timetable for the 2019 elections, the judge said that the move by the lawmakers was in clear breach of paragraph 15a of the 3rd Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
He went further to say that the right constitutionally vested on INEC could not be removed by the National Assembly through its belated process to amend the Electoral Act.
READ ALSO: If Nigeria can survive Ebola, it’ll overcome Buhari govt –Fani-Kayode
The court therefore nullified section 25 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2018, for which the lawmakers sought to alter sequence for the the general elections.
The court held that it was no longer necessary to compel President Muhammadu Buhari to reject the 2018 Amended Electoral Act since he had already withheld his assent to it.
Neither the Senate nor the House of Representatives is yet to react to the court ruling, and it is unclear at this time, if they would appeal the ruling.
RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears
Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...