The Senate on Tuesday again failed to conclude deliberations on the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act after several hours in a closed-door executive session.
Lawmakers dissolved into the executive session shortly after
plenary commenced, to consider the report of an ad hoc committee set up to
harmonise senators’ inputs on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The closed session lasted about five hours.
When plenary resumed, Senate President Godswill Akpabio did
not disclose details of the discussions on the bill.
Instead, Akpabio announced burial arrangements for the late
Okechukwu Ezea, who represented Enugu north senatorial district until his
death.
No information was provided on the outcome of the
deliberations on the Electoral Act.
The session followed the senate’s decision last week to
constitute a seven-member ad hoc committee after an earlier three-hour
executive session to further scrutinise the proposed amendments.
Announcing the committee, Akpabio said it was “mandated to
contribute, galvanise and distil the opinion of senators on the bill”.
He said the panel is chaired by Niyi Adegbonmire, chairman
of the senate committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters.
Other members of the committee are Adamu Aliero, Aminu
Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye, and Titus Zam.
Akpabio said the committee was given a maximum of three days
to complete its assignment and report back to the senate.
Although the house of representatives has passed the bill,
Akpabio urged caution from the upper chamber.
Despite repeated executive sessions, the senate has yet to
pass the bill, marking the third unsuccessful attempt in two weeks.
The senate, however, said it will not rush the bill, citing
the volume of post-election litigation after the 2023 polls and the need for
careful legislative scrutiny.
Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader, earlier said the bill would
significantly improve electoral credibility and institutional independence.
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