The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the suit filed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney-General of the Federation, (AGF), seeking to void section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022.
Recall that President Buhari had on February 25 assented to the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill. He, however, asked the National Assembly to delete section 84(12) of the Act, which reads: No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.
Following the refusal, Buhari and the AGF on April 29, 2022, filed a suit against the National Assembly at the apex court.
Justice Musa Dattijo, who led the 7-member panel of its justices, allowed the joinder application that Rivers State, brought through the Speaker of its House of Assembly and its Attorney-General, and adjourned the hearing on the suit until May 26.
The applicants told the court that they were opposed to the suit, which originally had the National Assembly as the sole respondent.
The court will announce a date to the parties involved.
On its part, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), brought an application seeking to be joined as a party in the suit, or in the alternative, to be allowed into the case as amicus curiae (friend of the court).
The court granted the alternative prayer.
