House of Representatives in Nigeria is making moves to override President Muhammadu and pass the amended electoral act.
This followed a constitutional point of order raised by Hon. Ben Igbakpa, calling on the Speaker to consider the law making role of the House and pass the law.
He said that the refusal of the president to sign the bill was one of the reasons that led to the use of the faulty delegate system in the last party primaries across the country.
He noted that the House had passed the bill and sent for president’s assent and the President failing to sign the bill gives the house the power to veto the president for the sake of future elections.
The Speaker Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, responded by urging Igbakpa to prepare and submit a motion on notice to be considered by the House on Thursday or any time convenient.
Also speaking on the same issue, Hon Toby Okechukwu, called on the National Assembly to take action and override the Electoral Act.
CVR Deadline
The House also considered the motion on the Need for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Extend the Deadline for the
Continuous Voters Registration, Deploy additional Staff and Voters Registration Machines Across
the Country.
The motion was moved by Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
He said that the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is scheduled to end on 30 June 2022, ahead of the 2023 General Elections.
” Cognizant of the large numbers of unregistered eligible voters willing to be registered as evidenced by
crowd seen at various registration centres resulting in congestion;
Concerned by reports of shortages of voter registration machines, inadequate manpower and personnel at
registration centres which may lead to frustrations among prospective registrants and in some cases, unrest
at some registration centres;
Also aware of calls from concerned Citizens and Civil Societies urging INEC to extend the voters’
registration deadline to accommodate eligible voters desiring to register for their Permanent Voters Cards; Further aware that the right to vote is critically important to the health and legitimacy of our democracy, as well as electoral integrity;
Also cognizant that if nothing is done to improve the shortage of voter registration equipment and extend the deadline for voters registration, millions of Nigerians will be disenfranchised thus jeopardizing the
integrity of the 2023 General Elections,” Hon Kalu said.
The House urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the voters registration
deadline by an extra 60 (sixty) days from June 30, 2022, to enable Nigerians register.
The House also considered a motion by Hon. Toby Okechukwu on the need for the House to look into the unending fire suspected to be fueled by methane gas at the premises of Caritas University, Amorji Nike, Enugu State for over twenty one (21) days.
“Further Notes that the fire which has claimed one life, reportedly started on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 after borehole drillers engaged by the university struck a gas belt about 1,242 feet below the earth.
Also Notes that all efforts by the Nigerian Civil and Defense Corps (NSCDC), federal and state fire services, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and its state counterpart (SEMA) to put out the fire has failed, including pouring over twelve (12) tanks of water with four (4) drums of chemicals”. Okechukukwu said.
He said that since the fire started, there has been no known intervention from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC) or any of its agencies.
“Recall that pursuant to our laws, the federal government is responsible for underground mineral resources and deposits.
Concerned that this incident which has been ongoing in a university community poses the risk of further exposure to the general public. Worried about the environmental hazards occasioned by this suspected gas flaring bearing in mind the precarious situations in the South South geopolitical zone”. He added.
The House in plenary also considered the need to Address the Menace of Flood and Erosion in Misau/Dambam Federal Constituency in Bauchi State moved by Hon. Ibrahim Makama Misau.
Nnenna.O
