…As Bill scales first reading in Senate
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has said that the National Assembly cannot be constrained from amending the Electoral Act.
Lawan asserted this while responding to a ruling by Justice Inyang Ekwo, of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday.
Ekwo had yesterday okayed an ex-parte application by the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), barring President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and the Senate President from tampering with the newly amended Electoral Act 2022.
In a statement by his spokesman, Ezrel Tabiowo, Lawan, who spoke after the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill scaled first reading at the plenary yesterday, said the Senate knows its due processes and as well know the limits of the Judiciary.
The Senate President maintained that the legislators are not operating outside the law and hence cannot be told what to do on the matter of the amendment Bill.
He noted that the Electoral Act has become a valid law and could not be altered without following the due process of law.
The court’s ruling came after a letter by President Muhammadu Buhari on 28th February 2022, requesting the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act.
Reacting to Justice Ekwo’s ruling that negated the President’s request, Lawan said the ruling violated the provisions of the 1999 Constitution on separation of powers.
The Senate President insisted that there is no going back on the amendment, stressing that no arm of Government could stop the National Assembly from carrying out its statutory functions.
