Order of elections NASS’ interpretation of two thirds majority exposed

As preparations by the leadership and some members of the National Assembly to override President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto of the amendments to the Electoral Act engage another gear, Sunday Vanguard can exclusively report that plans are at advanced stages to perfect the override action using the strict interpretations of some provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

Whereas the 1999 Constitution stipulates some areas of amendment that strictly make provision for the participation of the entire membership of each chamber, there are other provisions that merely refer to majority without the added priviso of “total num of legislators”.

The bone of contention had been the perceived near-impossibility of the National Assembly mustering the required two-thirds majority to override the presidential veto.

In fact, presidency sources who have been working hard at breaking the ranks of the legislators – some times allegedly offering carrots and, in some more vicious instances, threatening with the stick – informed Sunday Vanguard that the legislators cannot muster the needed two-thirds majority.

Vanguard, March 25, 2018

 

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