{"id":2199,"date":"2021-07-22T16:34:09","date_gmt":"2021-07-22T16:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/?p=2199"},"modified":"2021-07-22T16:34:15","modified_gmt":"2021-07-22T16:34:15","slug":"national-assembly-in-controversial-passage-of-the-electoral-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/national-assembly-in-controversial-passage-of-the-electoral-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"National Assembly in Controversial Passage of the Electoral Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>It turned out to be the case of dashed hope and expectations when the National Assembly announced passage of the Electoral Bill, generating controversy and confusion over electronic transmission of election results. After several years of wait that included bill drafting, research, public hearing, several committee meetings, setting up of a joint committee and adoption of a common report, the National Assembly passed a new Electoral Bill for Nigeria that dampened every expectation. In the Senate, the chamber passed an Electoral bill that raised constitutional questions, when it subjected INEC\u2019s functions to a Federal agency\u2019s recommendations and the National Assembly\u2019s approval, contrary to the provisions of section 158 (1) and the Third Schedule, Item F, paragraph 15(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which provide for the independence of INEC and empower it to conduct elections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the House, it is now emerging\nfrom its Votes and Proceedings that the session held on Thursday, 15<sup>th<\/sup>\nJuly retained the recommendations of its Committee on Electoral Matters authorising\nINEC to determine the procedure for voting and transmission of results. In the\nSenate, this power is subjected to endorsement by the Nigerian Communications\nCommission (NCC) and approval by the National Assembly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In that session of the House held\non 15<sup>th<\/sup> July, the proceedings had ended in chaos and fighting had\nensued following squabbles over the said key provision of clause 52 (2). The\nHouse had been divided along partisan political lines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The language around clause 52, became\nthe controversial provision that opened up the National Assembly to serious\nquestions and scrutiny. Following the House\u2019s deliberation clause 52 was passed\nas follows: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em>Voting\nat an election under this Bill shall be by open secret ballot. <\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em>Voting\nat an election and transmission of result under this Bill shall be in\naccordance with the procedure determined by the Commission.<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em>A\nvoter on receiving a ballot paper shall mark it in the manner prescribed by the\nCommission. <\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em>All\nballots at an election under this Bill at any polling station shall be\ndeposited in the ballot box in the open view of the public.<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The Senate passed an amendment to the\nBill, subjecting INEC\u2019s conduct of elections by electronic means to vetting by\nthe NCC and National Assembly approval. The Senate passed clause 52 as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em>Voting\nat an election under this Bill shall be by open secret ballot. <\/em><\/li><li><em>The Commission may\nconsider the electronic transmission of results, provided the national coverage\nis adjudged to be adequate and secure by the Nigerian Communications Commission\n(NCC) and approved by the National Assembly<\/em>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em>The Commission may\ntransmit results of elections by electronic means where and when practicable <\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em>A voter on receiving a\nballot paper shall mark it in the manner prescribed by the Commission. <\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em>All ballots at an\nelection under this Bill at any polling station shall be deposited in the\nballot box in the open view of the public.<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The amendment of clause 52 (2) was\nachieved by a division vote of 52 to 28 senators, while 28 senators were\nabsent. The Senators who voted for the amendment include: Deputy Senate\nPresident, Ovie Omo-Agege, Senator Peter Nwaboshi, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume,\nSenator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Gabor, Senator Yusuf\nAbubakar Yusuf, senator Bomai Ibrahim Mohammed, Asahabi Alhaji Ya\u2019u, Senator\nUba Sani, Seantor Kabiru Gaya, Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo, Senator Ahmad Babba\nKaita, Senator Adamu Aliero, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, Senator Yakubu Oseni,\nSenator Isah Jibrin, Senator Smart Adeyemi, Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe,\nSenator Oluremi Tinubu, Senator Solomon Adeola, Senator Tanko Al-Makura,\nSenator Godiya Akwashiki, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa,\nSenator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Senator Birma Mohammed Enagi, Senator Nora Ladi\nDadu\u2019ut, Senator Francis Alimikhena, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Senator Surajudeen\nAjibola, Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator\nAderele Oriolowo, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, Seantor Degi Eremienyo, Senator\nAshiru Yisa, Senator Bello Mandiya, Senator Hezekiah Dimka Ayuba, Senator\nFrancis Ibezim, Senator Kashim Shettima, Senator Stephen Odey, Senator Suaibu\nIsa Lau, Senator Alkali Saidu, Senator Amos Bulus, Senator Danladi Sankara ,\nSenator Hadeija hassan Ibrahim, Senator Suleiman Abdul Kwari, Senator Abdullahi\nBarkiya, Senator Jika Dauda Haliru, Senator Lawali Anka and Senator Lawal\nYahaya Gamau. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Senators who voted for the\noriginally proposed provision to allow INEC to determine the voting procedure\nat an election are as follows: Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Francis\nAdenigba Fedehunsi, Senator Clifford Ordia, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, Senator\nGyang Istifanus, George Sekibo, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Senator Mpigi Barinada,\nSenator Betty Apiafi, Senator Philip Aduda, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, Senator\nIbrahim Abdullahi Danbaba, Senator Danjuma La\u2019ah, Senator Francis Onyewuchi,\nSenator Patrick Ayo Akinyelure, Senator Kola Balogun, Senator Eyakeyi Akon Etim,\nSenator Christopher Ekpenyong, Senator Seriake Dickson, Senator Cleopas\nZuwoghe, Senator Emmanuel Orker-jev, Senator Sandy Onor, Senator Gershom\nbassey, Senator James Manager, Senator Obinna Ogba, Senator Sam Egwu, Senator\nNnachi Ama Micheal and Senator Albert Akpan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other provisions contained in the\nElectoral Bill, the provision relating to election finance, were also passed.\nThe maximum election expenses passed are as follows: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Presidential election \u2013 N5\nbillion, Governorship election \u2013 N1 billion, Senatorial election \u2013 N100 million,\nHouse of Representatives election \u2013 N70 million, State House of Assembly\nelection \u2013 N30 million, Area Council Chairmanship election \u2013 N30 million and\nArea Council Councillorship election \u2013 N5 million. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the House of Representatives\nand the Senate passing different versions of the Electoral Bill, it is now\nexpected that the harmonisation committee will be set up and the differences\nresolved, with a common bill prepared for transmission to the President for assent.\nIt is important to note that the harmonisation committee was not set up before\nthe two chambers adjourned for annual recess. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It turned out to be the case of dashed hope and expectations when the National Assembly announced passage of the Electoral Bill, generating controversy and confusion over electronic transmission of election results. After several years of wait that included bill drafting, research, public hearing, several committee meetings, setting up of a joint committee and adoption [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2111,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[390],"class_list":["post-2199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-national-assembly-in-controversial-passage-of-the-electoral-bill"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2199"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2199\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2203,"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2199\/revisions\/2203"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2199"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/placng.org\/Legist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}