Politics
Reps throw out bill seeking national conference, referendum
The House of Representatives on Wednesday rejected on arrival a bill proposing a fresh national conference and referendum, which will afford Nigerians the opportunity to discuss and adopt a new constitution for the country.
The bill was introduced by Mr Kingsley Chinda, a lawmaker from Rivers State and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member and another lawmaker from Edo State, Mr Peter Akpatason, who is an All Progressives Congress (APC) member.
The bill is entitled, “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Convocation of National Conference for the People of Nigeria for the Purpose of Discussing and Adopting a New Constitution to be submitted for Consideration and Approval at a Referendum and for other Purposes Connected therewith.”
However, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, rejected the bill as soon as it was proposed at the plenary of the House. He argued that any process for amending the constitution that was either in conflict with the constitution or did not conform to the existing provisions for the amendment of the constitution was unlawful.
Read also: Buhari is an illiterate on referendum, IPOB says
The House Committee Chairman on Rules/Business, Mr Orker Jev, opposing the bill, averred that Section 1 of the constitution held the constitution to be the “supreme” law of the land, which was also binding on all Nigerians.
He added that “any law that is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution automatically becomes null and void.”
He said that Section 9 of the constitution stated clearly how the constitution can be amended, adding that the constitution never included referendum for the purpose of its amendment.
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