THE HOUSE OF REPS REJECTS BILL TO STRIP INEC OFF POWER TO REGISTER POLITICAL PARTIES
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By Jen Nomamiukor
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives rejected a bill that sought to amend Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. The bill aimed to remove the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) authority to register and regulate political parties, proposing instead to transfer these powers to the Office of the Registrar-General of Political Parties.
A bill co-sponsored by Speaker of the House, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, and Hon. Francis Waive, was presented for its second reading. However, it was voted down after a voice vote conducted by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who was presiding over the plenary.
The Nigerian House of Representatives recently rejected several constitutional amendment bills. One key bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, proposed rotating the offices of the President and Vice President among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. This bill was rejected.
Other rejected bills include:
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A bill to establish independent Offices of State Auditors-General for Local Governments and the Federal Capital Territory Area Councils, aimed at strengthening fiscal oversight and promoting accountability at the grassroots level. It was sponsored by Rep. Julius Ihonvbere.
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A proposal to increase the number of judges in the Federal High Court to no fewer than 100, also sponsored by Rep. Ihonvbere.
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A bill to expand the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to cover admiralty matters, shipping, and navigation along the River Niger, River Benue, and their tributaries, as well as all federal ports and carriage by sea. This bill was again sponsored by Rep. Ihonvbere.
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A bill aimed at empowering the National Judicial Council, in collaboration with the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission, to determine the salaries, allowances, and emoluments of judicial officers and staff, also sponsored by Rep. Ihonvbere.
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A bill by Rep. Francis Ejiroghene Waive proposing the creation of Ughelli East Local Government Area in Delta State. All of these bills were ultimately rejected by the House.
Some lawmakers supported the bills, while others opposed them. When the matter was decided by a voice vote, the majority voted against the bills.
After the rejection, the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business asked the Speaker to reconsider the decision. He proposed that the bills be discussed separately instead of as a group
Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Ali Jesse, raised a point of order, referencing Order 9, Rule 6, which mandates that any decision to rescind a vote must be presented as a substantive motion with prior notice. The Speaker agreed and instructed the Committee on Rules and Business to include the rescission motion on the order paper for the next legislative day.
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