The House of Representatives on Tuesday rejected a constitutional amendment bill seeking to divest the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its statutory powers to register and regulate political parties in Nigeria.
The bill, co-sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, and Hon. Francis Waive, proposed transferring the power to the Office of the Registrar-General of Political Parties.
However, following a heated debate and a voice vote presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, the bill failed to secure the majority’s support.
Lawmakers also voted down six other bills aimed at amending key provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
Among them was a bill sponsored by Kalu advocating the rotation of the presidency and vice presidency among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to promote national inclusion.
Another notable proposal, sponsored by Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, sought to establish independent Offices of State Auditors-General for Local Governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils to bolster fiscal oversight and grassroots accountability.
Rep. Ihonvbere also pushed for three additional amendments: an increase in the number of judges at the Federal High Court to a minimum of 100; expansion of the court’s jurisdiction to cover admiralty and inland waterway matters; and empowering the National Judicial Council, in collaboration with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, to determine remuneration for judicial officers.
Furthermore, a bill sponsored by Rep. Waive proposed the creation of Ughelli East Local Government Area in Delta State. Like the others, it failed to pass.
Although several members supported the bills individually, the collective rejection sparked calls for reconsideration.
The Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business urged the House to address the bills separately.
However, Deputy Minority Leader Hon. Ali Jesse invoked Order 9, Rule 6, stating that any move to rescind the vote must come through a substantive motion.
Agreeing with the point of order, the Speaker directed the Committee to list the rescission motion in the next day’s order paper..
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