The Senate, yesterday, rejected the amendments sought by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Electoral Act 2022.
President Buharis Bill seeking the amendments, titled: A Bill for an Act to amend the Electoral Act 2022 and for related matters, 2022,, was overwhelmingly rejected by Senators, a development that effectively stopped its second reading.
The Bill had earlier scaled first reading on Tuesday despite a court order barring the Senate from acting on it.
Recall that President Buhari had, on March 25, urged the National Assembly to remove the section that mandates the resignation of political appointees before contesting in any election.
According to him, Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act disenfranchises political appointees, hence the request for its expungement. However, shouts of ‘nay!’ rented the air during the voice vote conducted for the proposed law.
Before the Senate commenced consideration of the Bill yesterday, Senator Adamu Aliero had, while citing order 52(5) of the Senate Standing Rules, urged the Senate President to jettison proposed action on the Bill.
Lawan was however adamant. He reiterated his position that only senators may reject the Bill and not the judiciary seeking to stop the chamber from performing its lawful duties through an order.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan had on Tuesday, challenged the Court order saying that the Judiciary cannot in any circumstances stop the Legislature from performing its constitutional duties.
