NASS: Court orders use of open ballot system in election of presiding officers

An Abuja High Court has ordered the use of open ballot system in the election of presiding officers of the 9th Assembly.

This follows a suit filed by the All Progressive Congress (APC) senators which faulted the use of senate standing orders 2015 (as amended).

According to the senators, the former leadership of the senate smuggled in the use of secret ballot mode for voting without the approval of members of the senate.

The court, presided over by Justice O.A. Musa, on Monday granted an interim injunction restraining the clerk of the National Assembly, the Clerk of the senate and the Sergeant At Arms to the senate and others from relying or enforcing the senate standing orders 2015 (as amended) in the conduct of the election.

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He however ordered the senate to apply the senate standing Orders 2011 (as amended) by the senate on the 24th May, 2011 which prescribed the use of open ballot rather than secret ballot mode in the election of presiding officers of the senate.

The order in suit number FCT/HC/BW/CV/136/2019 with Motion NO M/266/2019, was given after the court read the motion on notice and the accompany affidavit of Senator Jibrin Barau filed by his Counsel Ebere Nwanya Esq.

High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Court No 13, Bwari, Abuja, ordered that “an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents and each of them, whether by themselves, servants or agents or otherwise from further using, relying or enforcing the senate standing orders 2015 (as amended) for the purposes of conducting any legislative business or affairs in the 9th senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria including but not limited to the election of Presiding officers of the senate to commence on the 11th of June, 2019 and any other day pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion in this case.

“An interim order restraining the 1st & 2nd Respondents and each of them whether by themselves or otherwise not to use any other senate standing orders for the inauguration of the 9th Assembly whatsoever including but limited to the election of Presiding officers of the senate on Tuesday, 11th June 2019 and any other day except the senate standing Orders 2011 (as amended) by the senate on the 24th May, 2011.

“As the order was heard and made ex-parte any paerty aggrieved shall file a motion to set aside or vacate the said order and serve same on the Applicant or counsel before the next adjourned date”.

The court therefore adjourned to 13th day of June, 2019 for definite hearing.

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