The bill to amend the recently-signed Electoral Act, 2022 of Nigeria failed to the pass second reading at the Senate on Wednesday.
In utter disregard of an order of court handed down by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, the Nigerian Senate had initiated the amendment process by conducting the first reading of the Bill on Tuesday.
President Muhammadu Buhari had written to the upper and lower legislative chambers seeking amendment to Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, 2022 to pave way for political office holders to serve as delegates.
The section in the Electoral Act which barred political office holders from serving as delegates of political parties during conventions of political parties, Buhari said was denial of democratic rights of certain citizens.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan had insisted that lawmaking was within the powers of the parliament, hence, the order of court should be disregarded.
He directed the Senate leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi Abubakar to read the bill on Wednesday.
The Bill to amend the Electoral 2022, however, failed at the second reading, aborting its further evolution.
