Tag: Electoral Act

Opposition Groups demands INEC Chair’s resignation

Aminu Imam
Opposition demands resignation

….Accuses Commission’s boss of bias, interference Concerns over the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process intensified yesterday, as opposition groups and prominent civic voices separately raised alarms about alleged partisanship within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and proposed amendments to the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 general elections. In Abuja, a non-partisan pro-democracy group, Opposition Watch Nigeria (OWN), called for the resignation of INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), accusing him of bias and unlawful interference in the internal affairs of opposition political parties. The group warned that such…

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INEC faults SERAP over prosecution of Govs, Deputies as electoral offenders

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has faulted the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project SERAP on its alleged neglect and non-prosecution of offenders arising from the 2023 General Election, especially Governors and Deputies found wanting for violations of electoral laws, describing the assertion by SERAP as misleading. INEC in a statement by a National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun said the allegations are untrue and fly in the face of facts already in the public domain. INEC stressed that Governors and Deputy Governors have constitutional…

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2023: NASS will amend Electoral Act to remedy weaknesses, says Lawan

Aminu Imam

…Senate to reconsider stance on direct party primaries Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, says the National Assembly will further amend the Electoral Act 2022 to serve as a safeguard against weaknesses identified in the law. Lawan stated this following ‘a matter of urgent national importance’ brought by former Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, during the plenary yesterday. Abdullahi had suggested that the Senate “reverts to its earlier stand on direct primaries”. The lawmaker also asked lawmakers of both the Senate and House of Representatives to look out for the loopholes and weaknesses…

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Supreme Court dismisses Buhari, Malami’s suit against new Electoral Act

Aminu Imam

The Supreme Court has struck out a suit filed by President Muhammad Buhari and the Attorney-General of the Federation, (AGF) Abubakar Malami, challenging Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act. The suit was sacked on Friday by a seven-judge bench of the apex court, led by Musa Dattijo-Muhammad. The bench unanimously struck out the suit, saying that it was an abuse of the court process. Delivering the lead judgment, Aokmaye Agim, held that President Buhari, having earlier assented to section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022, cannot turn around to…

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Electoral Act: Supreme Court reserves judgment on Buhari’s suit

Aminu Imam

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…

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2023: “It’s too late to sign amendment to Electoral Act” – Group warns Buhari

Aminu Imam

A coalition of 24 election monitoring groups under the aegis of the Coalition of Election Monitors and Observers (CEMO), Monday, cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari against signing the amendment to the Electoral Act 2022. The coalition said signing the document days before the crucial party primaries to elect Presidential candidates would be a disservice to Nigeria’s democracy. National Convener of CEMO, Dr. Idris Yabu, stated this yesterday, while presenting a report after the meeting of the coalition, in Abuja. The group urged President Buhari to save the nation from a very…

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‘Buhari pressured to delay signing amended Electoral Act 2022 for tenure elongation’ ? PDP

Aminu Imam

The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari was being pressured to delay the signing of the 2022 Electoral Act (amendment) Bill by elements in the All Progressives Congress, (APC), intent on foisting tenure elongation on the country. The main opposition party has, therefore, warned the ruling party to perish the thoughts of subverting the electoral process “as part of its desperation to elongate its abysmal tenure beyond May 29, 2023”. The PDP made the submission in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo…

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Electoral Act 2022: Supreme Court to hear suit by Buhari, AGF Malami Thursday

Aminu Imam

Nigeria’s Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for May 19 in the suit by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, (SAN). The scheduling is not only reflected in the court’s case list for the week but it was gathered that parties have since been served hearing notices. The suit, filed on April 29, 2022, the National Assembly is listed as the sole defendant. The plaintiffs are contending among others, that the said section of the Electoral Act 2022 is in…

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It’s too late to tinker with 2023 elections timelines – INEC

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it is too late to tinker with the schedule of activities for the 2023 general elections. Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, stated this while speaking on Monday in Abuja. Okoye spoke against the backdrop of the two months extension of deadline for the conduct of parties’ primary recently sought by Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC). According to him, any change in the June 3 deadline will affect other activities for elections. “The timetable and schedule of…

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Electoral Act 2022: Appeal Court nullifies judgment voiding Section 84(12), says it’s unconstitutional

Aminu Imam

…Voids Umuahia judgment The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, yesterday, set aside the judgment of Justice Evelyn Anyadike, of a Federal High Court in Umuahia, which voided the provision of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022. In a verdict by a three-member panel headed by Justice Hamma Akawu Barka, held that the Federal High Court, Umuahia, had no jurisdiction to have entertained the case because the plaintiff, Nduka Edede, lacked the locus standi to have filed the suit in the first place. The appellate court ruled that…

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