Yemi Adedeji, Abuja
Heated argument that ensued on Wednesday in the Senate over the reordering of election sequence has led to the suspension of the debate on the bill in the red chamber.
The development raises questions on whether the National Assembly still has the determination to push through, with the piece of legislation that had generated controversies in recent times, and pitched the legislature against the presidency.
The bills for an “Act to amend the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010, to make provisions for sequence of elections in Nigeria and for related matters” was stepped down by the sponsors after it had been listed for second reading in both chambers.
The lawmakers had amended Section 25 of the Electoral Act, to change the order of 2019 general elections’ time table. In the initial version, the National Assembly election is to hold first, followed by gubernatorial, state assembly and presidential elections.
The bill was, however, rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari who declined assent on the premise that it infringes on the powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise and supervise elections.
The amendment was feared to have the potential to weaken the president, if presidential poll is conducted last, instead of first, due to its bandwagon on other elections.
In the version of the bill presented wednesday, the governorship elections were slated to be held first, followed by National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly next, and then Presidential polls.
Initially, both legislative chambers were working to override the president’s veto, leading to intense lobbying by the presidency for the National Assembly to abandon the cause.
Sulaiman Nazif, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), presenting the new version, named “a Bill for an Act to amend the provisions of the Electoral Act No.6, 2010, to make provisions for sequence of elections in Nigeria.”
He said that the bill does not infringe on the powers of INEC to fix election dates.
He added that the constitution does not specify a sequence for the general election.
While Nazif was explaining the new sequence, several senators were heard saying ‘No’.
Majority Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, opposed the bill, and urged the Senate not to tamper with INEC’s powers on election, on grounds that it would make elections more costly.
“We should not legislate on sequence, but rather, assist INEC to do its job,” he said.
Senator Olusola Adeyeye said INEC should be granted full autonomy to determine issues of elections.
“INEC before now chose dates, and should be allowed to do so. Anything after that is legislative rascality,” he said.
Tayo Alasoadura also opposed the bill, and said the Senate does not have the constititonal right to ‘do what it was doing.’
“We are concentrating on irrelevancies, there are so many problems, people are dying, losing jobs,” he said.
Senator Dino Melaye also disagreed that the attempt to create a sequence, was unconstitutional.
Godswill Akpabio, the Minority Leader, argued that the lawmakers had the powers to legislate on order of elections, but he disagreed with the new order in the bill.
“My disagreement with this bill is that we cannot approbate and repprobate. As a Senate, we are distinguished people; we cannot speak with both sides of our mouth.”
“The sequence, as proposed here, is such that not only has it taken us backwards, it shows that we look confused. And if we are confused, let us go back to the status quo.
Senator Kabiru Marafa called for all polls to be conducted in one day.
“There is a difference between dates and sequence, and the constitution empowers INEC to fix dates,” he said, adding that other issues can be subjected to legislation.
