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Tag: constitution

  • UPDATE: Constitution Review: Senate okays 35 amendments

    UPDATE: Constitution Review: Senate okays 35 amendments

    The Senate has approved 35 items out of the 44 Constitution Alteration Bills forwarded to State Houses of Assembly for concurrence.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that 24 out of the 36 assemblies voted for the 35 items with complete exclusion of financial and administrative autonomies for local government councils.

    Senate’s resolution to this effect , followed motion on Tuesday, moved by Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele on behalf of the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, who chaired the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.

    The 35 items read by Bamidele were: Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No 3 (Change of Names of Afikpo North and Afikpo South Local Government Areas (Ebonyi),
    Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No 4 (Change of Name of Kunchi Local Government Area (Kano State).

    “Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No 5 (Change of Names of Egbado North and Egbado South Local Government Areas (Ogun) and Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No 7 (Correction of the name of Atisbo Local Government Area (Oyo).

    Others were Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No 8 (Correction of Name of Obia/Akpor Local Government Area (Rivers);
    Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No 9 (Financial autonomy of State legislatures and State Judiciary).

    “Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 10 (Enforcement of Legislative Summon); Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 11 (Inauguration of Members-Elect), Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 21 (Deletion of reference in the Constitution to the provisions of the Criminal Code, Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Act, Criminal Procedure Code or Evidence Act).

    “Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 22 (Provision for Intervening Events in the Computation of Tine for the Determination of Pre-Election Petitions, Election Petitions and Appeals therefrom).

    “Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 24 (Expansion of the Interpretation of Judicial Office); Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 25 (Appointment of Secretary of the National Judicial Council);

    “Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 29 (Devolution of Powers (Airports));
    Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 30 (Devolution of Powers (Fingerprints, identification and criminal records).

    “Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 31 (Devolution of Powers (Correctional Services), Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 32 (Devolution of Powers (Railways)

    The upper chamber accordingly directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to transmit the 35 Bills that have so far met the requirement of the provision of Section 9(2) of the Constitution to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent in line with the provisions of the Acts Authentication Act.

    It also urged the following State Houses of Assembly – Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Zamfara that were yet to forward their resolution on the Bills to do so in fulfillment of their constitutionally imposed legislative obligation to the Constitution amendment process.

    Some of the nine bills bills that failed passage at the State Houses of Assembly were the one that sought for Abrogation of the State Joint Local Government Account and Provide for special Account into which shall be paid all Allocations due to Local Government Councils from the Federation Account and from the Government of the State; and for Related Matters”.

  • Gbajabiamila expresses doubts over conclusion of constitutional amendment

    Gbajabiamila expresses doubts over conclusion of constitutional amendment

    Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives on Monday expressed doubt over the conclusion of constitutional amendment before the expiration of the ninth assembly in June 2023.

    He made this known at the second edition of the Distinguished Parliamentarians Lecture organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Abuja.

    The speaker said the national assembly had passed a draft of amendment to the constitution and advanced it to the states as required, adding that the process now seemed to have stalled in the state assemblies.

    “As it is today, it is doubtful that the current constitutional amendment effort will be concluded before the expiration of this legislative arms,” Gbajabiamila said.

    He said despite broad national agreement on the need for reform, the potential for achievements could rise or fall based on differences in expectations of the context, peace, and direction of the specific proposal.

    The speaker said the conclusion of the amendment was necessary to enable it to advance the course of the nation’s democracy and put it together for the good of the country.

    Gbajabiamila said one of the effective tools the ninth assembly had adopted was the Public Policy Dialogue, adding that the dialogues were structured engagement between the stakeholders.

    This, he said, was designed to build a shared understanding of issues and advance policy recommendations that addressed issues in a manner the parties could agree with.

    “These dialogues have helped us to advance national security legislation that may otherwise have proved difficult to scale.”

    Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, the Director General of NILDS said: “Today’s occasion attests to the robust nature of symbiotic roles of the executive and legislative.”

    He said this had brought to bear on democratic practices in Africa, where Nigeria had taken the lead.

    Suleiman said if the symbiotic relationship between the two arms of government, was strengthened, it would portend a leeway for democracy and impactful good governance to thrive.

    This according to him, does not, however, preclude the two arms having to occasionally diverge, even seriously on issues that have a direct bearing on the lives of constituents.

  • Collection of parking levy is constitutional – LASG

    Collection of parking levy is constitutional – LASG

    The Lagos State Government on Wednesday said the collection of parking levy by its parking agency was empowered by law.

    The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederick Oladeinde, disclosed this in Ikeja at a news conference to sensitise stakeholders and the public on the mandates and activities of the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA).

    Oladeinde said that a post was recently circulated on the social media in which LASPA issued a letter signed by its General Manager, levying a Lekki-based company N290,000 for the parking lot outside its premises.

    He said that as it was usually the case, especially in a political season, political jobbers and people with limited knowledge on the constitutional mandate of LASPA had tried fruitlessly to exaggerate the issue by playing to the gallery.

    According to him, contrary to the erroneous claims of certain individuals and groups, LASPA has the power by law to collect parking levy.

    He said that LASPA was created to find lasting solutions to the issues of indiscriminate and illegal parking across the state, adding that this would aid prompt reduction of traffic gridlock experienced by everyone.

    The commissioner said that the agency was established, among other things, to promote parking policies, tailored to suit the peculiarity of the state, in line with modern international standards and aimed at achieving a smart city.

    He said that LASPA was also empowered to remove all impediments arising from indiscriminate parking on carriageways, thereby increasing the carriageway capacity on the roads, improving the flow of traffic and reducing travel time.

    Oladeinde said that the first mandate of the authority was to improve the parking culture, of which its establishment had also enabled employment opportunities for the youths and in doing so, it is expected that revenue generation would come naturally.

    According to him, LASPA has the mandate to charge fees on private commercial parks, non-commercial parks and other parking lots on any facility provided by the authority.

    “Let me emphasise that most private commercial parks charge Lagosians between N500 to N1,000 parking dues per hour and each person parking at these respective parks can have four stop-overs, which sum up to N2,000 or N4,000 daily.

    “At the end of the year, the commercial park owner will realise over N182,500 or N365,000 if charges is per hour or gain a total N730,000 or N1,460,000 for four stop-overs. This is the price most Lagosians pay to commercial park owners.

    “LASPA levy of N80,000 divided by the number of days in a year result to N219 only, against the above charges of commercial park owners. The difference is clear as the government is quite considerate and responsive in making the environment conducive for all.

    “It is important to restate that being a government that respects the constitution as the sole source of its engagement with the public, the state government will never resort to any unconstitutional means in its dealing with the people,” he said.

    He called on residents to cooperate with the agency and other similar stakeholders in carrying out “its laudable mandate”, urging interested and concerned members of the public to visit the agency’s office for necessary information and assistance.

    The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, said that the claims that the government would levy people for parking in their private residences was false.

    “It is not true, it is an attempt to malign the government by mischievous people. We are not surprise to see things like this because we are in the season of politics.

    “When it comes to this kind of matter everybody seems to be an expert, everybody seems to be a lawyer,” Omotoso said.

    The General Manager, LASPA, Mrs Adebisi Adelabu, said that the state government was moving to the level where every developer and builder must accommodate park provisions in their building plans before construction.

    Adelabu said that the agency has been discussing with religious organisations and businesses on the need to establish parks for their worshippers and customers.

    She said that the need to reorder indiscriminate collection of levies for parking was important, so as to channel the funds into infrastructure to solve existing problems.

  • Ohanaeze Ndigbo wants zoning of the presidency in the Constitution

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo wants zoning of the presidency in the Constitution

    The Council of Elders, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has said that rotating the country’s presidency within its six geo-political zones should be made constitutional for equity, justice and fairness going forward.

    Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Chairman of the council, said this while briefing newsmen at the end of its extra-ordinary meeting on Sunday in Abuja.

    He said limiting the zoning of the country’s presidency to the North and South is vague and should therefore be discouraged.

    Iwuanyanwu said the council believes that if it was agreed that the presidency should be zoned to the South in 2023, since the South-West and South-South had produced the country’s presidents, it was now the turn of the South-East.

    According to him, the South-East leaders did everything possible to convince the South-West and South-South leaders on the need for it to produce the country’s next president in 2023.

    He said the leaders, including Middle Belt leaders, agreed that it was the turn of the South-East and even made public statements to support Igbo presidency in 2023.

    He added that while the leaders agreed that it was the turn of the South-East to produce the country’s next president at the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure in 2023, the political class took a contrary decision.

    “The political class unfortunately took another decision which made us feel terribly betrayed, not by the elders, but by the political class.

    “Because we are sure that the elders in the whole South and middle belt supported Igbo presidency in 2023.

    “So it is our strong view that issues of zoning the presidency should be put in the Constitution and it should be rotated among the country’s six geo-political zones.

    “The question of rotating the presidency between North and South is very vague, after all, the federal character is very glaring,” Iwuanyanwu said.

    He added that though the South-East geo-political zone was disappointed that none of the two major political parties zoned its presidential ticket to the region, it would not boycott the 2023 general elections as being speculated.

    He said Nigerians of Igbo extraction are major stakeholders in the Nigerian project and the only tribe seen across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) doing businesses and contributing to national development.

    “We are not going to abandon Nigeria, we are the biggest investors in any part of the country, so we are not going to withdraw our participation in any political activities.

    “We will fully participate in all political activities ahead of 2023 general elections, but we are going to watch and probably make a statement later.

    “But let it be known to Nigerians that Igbos are going to fully participate in the 2023 general elections,” he said.

    He, meanwhile, decried the situation where certain persons made claims on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, adding that the council had only one recognised structure, headed by Pro. George Obiozor, its President General, and Amb. Okey Emuchay, its General Secretary.

    “The Council of Elders, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, is worried that some people make reckless statements on behalf of Ohanaeze, Nigerians should ignore such persons.

    “The only persons authorised  to make statements on behalf of Ohanaeze is Prof. George Obiozor and Amb. Okey Emuchay,” Iwuanyanwu said.

    He added that the council had, however, passed a voted of absolute confidence on Obiozor’s leadership because he was doing well.

    He expressed concern over the current insecurity problems in the country, saying that there was the need for the Federal Government to do more to address the situation before it gets out of hands..

    He also expressed sadness over the recent killings of some worshipers at St. Francis Catholic Church Owo, Ondo State, noting that most of those killed were of Igbo extraction.

    He said the council had directed that a letter of condolence should be sent to the Ondo State governor to express the views and support of the council to the people of the state.

    “By our Constitution, Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State is our son-in-law and an honorary member of Ohanaeze because he is marrying our daughter so also their children,” Iwuanyanwu said.

    He further added that the council at the meeting, set up different committees to proffer ways of addressing issues affecting the South-East region, especially in areas of education, electricity and security among others.

  • Lawan renews hope on pending constitution review matters

    Lawan renews hope on pending constitution review matters

    President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, has appealed to Nigerians with pending issues on constitution review not to lose hope.

    Lawan said the doors of the National Assembly were still open for further engagements on issues not addressed during the last exercise.

    He spoke in Abuja on Thursday while receiving in audience members of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, led by the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.

    Lawan, who recalled the recent review exercise said, “The D-Day came. And the voting took place and the rest is history, as they would say. We all feel sad but then that is democracy.

    “But what you have done today is to take democracy to Nigerians because what you have done today is to show your belief in the parliament, the National Assembly.

    “And you have given an example to the rest of Nigerians that never lose hope because your request failed. So many things failed. Of course many more passed because we have casualties in our bills.

    “And I am taking the opportunity to appeal to other Nigerians, either individuals or institutions, organisations, NGOs, CSOs and so on, if there was anything that you wanted done or passed during the constitution amendment exercise, the latest one, and it failed, hope should not be lost.

    “We are still around and this parliament is the people’s parliament.

    “It is the only parliament that can kick start the process and therefore, people can still come back and remind us about their issues and maybe we change our strategies, the lobbyists and maybe we look at why it failed and how it can pass.”

    Earlier, Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe said that their mission was to appeal to the senate to reconsider its position on the need to accord constitutional recognition to the roles of the traditional Institutions in governance.

    The issue of formal recognition of the roles was deliberated upon recently during the review exercise by the National Assembly, but it was not passed by the senate.

  • JUST IN: SAN canvasses tenure extension for Buhari

    JUST IN: SAN canvasses tenure extension for Buhari

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Robert Clarke has said President Muhammadu Buhari has the constitutional empowerment to stay in office for more than 8 years.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Clarke to have said in view of the security situation of the country, stressing that President Buhari can extend his tenure if the security situation of the country does not allow for elections to hold.

    The elder statesman and senior lawyer made this known when he appeared on an Arise Television programme.

    Clarke noted that the Constitution provided the President to extend his tenure for six months in the first instance if conditions were not ripe for an election.

    He, however, warned that the nation may not scale through 2023 if nothing was done before the elections.

    “The Constitution provides that the President can stay longer than eight years. I’ve always said it. It is in the Constitution.

    “If the situation in which we’re in now continues, and it is impossible to vote in the 2023 elections, the Constitution says if a situation persists, the President can stay.

    “Given all insurgencies, kidnappings, and Boko Haram, I don’t think in these areas of Nigeria, we can have a good election.

    “So, the fact that the Constitution says the president cannot stay for more than eight years is wrong. Because the same constitution says he can be given six months if those conditions persist.

    “Now, I don’t see any green light. I don’t see how what is happening today can be stopped within six months from today or before February next year when the elections will be held.

    “The alternative then is for Mr. President to continue as president, allow the security watches to carry up the mopping up and Nigeria will become stable.

    “Because I swear to God Almighty, without stability in Nigeria, without security, Nigeria is going nowhere.

    “No foreigner will bring his money and put in any business in Nigeria when he knows that any of his expatriates who are sent to Nigeria can be kidnapped at any time.

    “So, until all these things are sorted out, I don’t see any green light. If nothing happens before the elections, God forbid, this country will go down in flames,” Clark said.

    TNG reports this is coming after legal luminary, Afe Babalola had called for the suspension of the 2023 elections and for an interim government to be installed after Buhari’s tenure.

  • Don’t vote for presidential aspirants lying forms were acquired for them – Obasanjo

    Don’t vote for presidential aspirants lying forms were acquired for them – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Nigerians not to vote for any presidential candidate lying that some persons acquired forms for them. Obasanjo explains that the country is presently having leadership problems.

    Recall that presidential aspirants under the auspices of PDP ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President Bukola Saraki; Governor Aminu Tambuwal; former governor Peter Obi, are among those who said nomination forms were purchased for them.

    Obasanjo made this statement when Speaking in Lagos during a colloquium with the theme, “The African Christian Leadership: Radical Transformation in Unsettled Times” to mark the 61st birthday of Pastor Itua Ighodalo, Obasanjo said Nigeria’s problem is entirely about leadership.

    He said Nigeria’s constitution which many have faulted and attributes the country’s challenges to was drafted by the best brains gathered by the military at the time.

    “Today, they are paying N40m. Some of them (aspirants) even said it is some youths who bought it for them. In fact anybody who would come out to tell you such a lie, you shouldn’t vote for him. Which youths gathered N40m? If you want to buy it, buy it and tell us. You don’t need to lie to us.”

    The former President said the problems confronting Nigeria at the moment can only be surmounted by good leadership, noting that Nigeria needed a change of leadership.

    “If you say, ‘what is wrong with Nigeria’, leadership. If you say, ‘what do you have to do about Nigeria’, leadership. If you say, ‘where are we taking Nigeria? Leadership.’

    He added that leadership and not constitution is Nigeria’s problems.

  • Supreme Court upholds de-registration of 22 political parties by INEC

    Supreme Court upholds de-registration of 22 political parties by INEC

    The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the de-registration of 22 political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The parties were among the 74 scrapped in 2020 by INEC following their dismal performances in previous elections. Respondents in the appeal are the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and INEC.

    The parties are Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP), All Blending Party (ABP), All Grand Alliance Party (AGAP), Alliance of Social Democrats (ASD), Change Advocacy Party (CAP), Democratic People’s Congress (DPC), Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN) and Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN).

    Others are New Generation Party of Nigeria (NGPA), Nigeria For Democracy (NFD), Peoples Coalition Party (PCP), Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), People for Democratic Change (PDC), Young Democratic Party (YDP), Re-Build Nigeria Party (RBNP), Save Nigeria Congress (SNC), Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), United Democratic Party (UDP), United Patriots (UP) and We The People of Nigeria (WTPN).

    Delivering Judgment, Justice Ejembi Eko, in an appeal instituted by INEC against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, voided and set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja division which had nullified the de-registration.

    Eko held that the appeal court on its own raised the issue of lack of fair hearing in favour of the 22 scrapped parties and arrived at a conclusion without hearing from other parties in the matter.

    “This appeal by INEC is meritorious and is hereby allowed. The decision of the court below is set aside”, Eko said.

    The apex court held that the court of appeal took out the issue of fair hearing out of the contemplation of the notice of appeal filed by the political parties but refused to do the needful in order to be fair to others in the matter.

    It said that the court of appeal erred in law by raising the issue of fair hearing in favour of the political parties suo motu and declined to give opportunity to other respondents to address it on the matter in order to arrive at a just conclusion.

    Eko said that proceeding to give judgment in such a situation as done by the Court of Appeal ran foul of the pillar of the same fair hearing and as such, its findings and conclusion cannot stand.

    INEC had on Feb. 6, 2020 de-registered 74 political parties for failing to win any political office in the last general election.

    The Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) and 21 other parties sued at the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge their de-registration by INEC.

    In a judgment on June 11, 2020, the Federal High Court dismissed the suit on the grounds that INEC was empowered to de-register parties that failed to win elections.

    The court held that Section 225(a), (b) and (c) of the Constitution could be construed disjointively to imply that INEC possesses the power to deregister parties.

    On appeal to the Court of Appeal, Abuja, the appellate court, in its judgment in August 2020 said although INEC could de-register parties, it was wrong to have deregistered ACD and 21 other parties while their case was pending in court.

    Delivering judgment on Aug. 10, 2020, a panel led by Monica Dongban-Mensem, appeal court president, unanimously overturned the judgment of the lower court.

    The court held that INEC ignored due process in exercising its powers under section 225(a) of the constitution (as amended).

    The panel noted that the parties already filed their suit at the lower court which was yet to be determined before the deregistration.

    Also, the appellate court held that INEC had failed to give reasons to the parties on why they could no longer exist.

    The court held that section 40 of the constitution gives citizens the right to the freedom of association, and as such, the right conferred on a political party cannot be taken away except in accordance with the provisions of the law and due process.

    Dongban-Mensem said the appellants did not challenge INEC’s powers as enshrined on section 225(a) of the constitution but the process by which they were deregistered.

    Consequently, the court ordered that the appellants should be listed as political parties in the country.

  • APC bars Amaechi, Malami, Akpabio, others from voting at Nat’l Convention

    APC bars Amaechi, Malami, Akpabio, others from voting at Nat’l Convention

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has barred Rotimi Amaechi, AGF Malami, Godswill Akpabio, Lai Mohammed and other political appointees from voting at its National Convention slated for tomorrow. This is contained in its programme of events for rhe National Convention.

    Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and Chairman, Media and Publicity Sub-Committee for the APC 2022 National Convention made this known on Thursday.

    Below is the programme of events for the convention scheduled to hold at the Eagle Square, Abuja, as released by Sule on Thursday in Abuja.

    1. Arrival of Accredited National Delegates – 10 a.m-1p.m

    2. Arrival of the Members of the National Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) – 1:30p.m

    3. Arrival of APC State Governors, National Assembly Members, Ministers and Party Leaders – 1:30-2:p.m

    4. Arrival of the Speaker of the House of Representatives – 2:10p.m

    5. Arrival of the Senate President – 2:20p.m

    6. Arrival of the National Chairman, Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) – 2:30p.m

    7. Arrival of the Vice-President – 2:45p.m

    8. Arrival of the President – 3:15p.m

    9. The National Anthem – 3:30p.m

    10. Opening Prayers – 3:35p.m

    11. Goodwill messages by Youth Wing, Women Wing, People Living with Disability (PLwD) and Diaspora Wing – 3:40-4:50p.m

    12. Remarks by Chairman, Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Representatives of Governors’ from each of the six geo-political zones – 4:50-5:20p.m

    13. Interlude – 5:20-5:25p.m

    14. Remarks by the Speaker of the House of Representatives – 5:25-5:30p.m

    15. Remarks by the Senate President – 5:30-5:35p.m

    16. Remarks by the Vice-President – 5:35-5:40p.m

    17. Special Remarks by the President – 5:40-5:55p.m

    18. Welcome Address by National Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee Chairman and presentation of motions – 5:55-6:10p.m

    i. Motion for the approval of Constitution as amended

    ii. Motion for the ratification of all activities carried out by CECPC

    19. Remarks by the Chairman, Election Committee – 6:10-6:20p.m

    20. Elections into Zonal and National Offices of the APC

    21. Interlude

    22. Counting and Collation of Votes

    23. Declaration of Results/Swearing in of the newly elected executives

    24. Acceptance Speech by the newly elected National Chairman of the APC

    25. Motion for closing of the 2022 Extra-ordinary National Convention

    26. Closing Remarks by National Secretary

    27. Closing Prayers

    28. National Anthem

    29. Departure in reverse order.

    Meanwhile, the APC has barred political appointees from voting at the national convention.

    The party made this known in a press statement on Thursday titled, ‘Attention to political office holders who were elected as delegates’.

    It read, “The National Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of APC has declared that all political appointees who were elected as delegates to the National Convention slated for 26/3/2022 SHALL NOT VOTE in view of the controversy surrounding Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act,2022.

    “However, political appointees can still attend as observers.”

    Recall that the National Assembly (NASS) had earlier unanimously rejected a request from President Muhammadu Buhari to further amend the Electoral Act.

    The president asked the National Assembly to amend Section 84(10) of the Act to allow political appointees to contest and participate in primaries without resigning.

    Section 84(10) of the Act specifically 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 nomination of candidates for any election.”

    As the NASS rejected the president’s request, a lawyer and chieftain of Action Alliance (AA), Mr Nduka Edede, approached a Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia on the matter – in a suit marked FHC/MU/SC/26/2022, with the Attorney General of the Federation as the defendant.

    The plaintiff asked the court to determine whether Section 84(12), when read together with Sections 66(1)(f) 107(1)(f)(137(1)(f) and 182(1)(f) of the 1999 Constitution, was not inconsistent.

    The judgment, delivered by Justice Evelyn Anyadike, nullified Section 84(12) of the newly amended Electoral Act, saying it violated the provisions of the Constitution.

    Anyadike held that the section was unconstitutional, invalid, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever, saying it ought to have been struck out.

    A few hours after the judgement was delivered, the Office of Attorney General and Minister of Justice announced Federal Government’s plans to implement the court judgement allowing political appointees to run for office without resigning.

    Some of the President’s ministers who are said to be planning to run for different offices include the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who is said to be eyeing the Kebbi State governorship seat; the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who is believed to be planning to contest the governorship of Katsina State; the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who is rumoured to be eyeing the Presidency.

    Others who are said to have political ambitions include the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige; the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba; and a few others.

    On Wednesday, March 23, the Senate resolved to appeal the judgment by the Federal High Court in Umuahia, nullifying the provision of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022.

  • NASS will soon start another round of constitutional amendments – Gbajabiamila

    NASS will soon start another round of constitutional amendments – Gbajabiamila

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the National Assembly will soon start another round of amendments to the 1999 Constitution.

    The speaker disclosed this to reporters in Ilorin, Kwara state capital.

    Gbajabiamila explained that the lawmakers would also devolve more powers from the exclusive to the concurrent list in the new amendment.

    He said that both Chambers of the National Assembly would harmonise the amendments and send same to State Houses of Assembly.

    Kwara Governor AbdulRaman Abdulrazaq reiterated the need to have more women in government especially thirty five percent affirmative.