The Senate has stepped down the report on the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 202 for further scrutiny before a final decision can be taken.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who announced during plenary on Wednesday, called for caution, particularly as preparations for future elections intensify.
Akpabio’s announcement was sequel to the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), requesting that senators be allowed to take home copies of the report prepared by the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters for “a detailed, clause-by-clause study”.
Akpabio sided with Bamidele, saying the upper chamber must not rush the legislation with far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s democratic process.
He said “this is a very important bill, considering the fact that we’re about to go into elections. If we rush it, we’ll meet at the tribunal. But if we do it right, then all Nigerians will smile that we have free and fair elections,” the Senate president said.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that the debate on the general principles of the amendment bill was listed on the Order Paper for consideration on Wednesday before it was eventually stepped down.
The absence of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South), who was expected to present the committee’s report was another reason for the stepping down of the bill.
The absence caused the Senate leaders to meet after which it was agreed that both the presentation and debate on the bill be deferred to the next legislative day.
Bamidele subsequently moved a motion to step down the bill until Thursday (today), explaining that a short closed-door executive session would precede open deliberation on the proposals. The motion was put to a voice vote and adopted. Accident Scene – Uncle | P1
Although the House of Representatives has already passed the bill, the Senate insisted on a more deliberate review process.
