Premium News
The senate on Tuesday again failed to conclude deliberations on the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act after several hours in a closed-door executive session.
Lawmakers dissolved into the executive session shortly after plenary commenced, to consider the report of an ad hoc committee set up to harmonise senators’ inputs on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The closed session lasted about five hours.
When plenary resumed, Senate President Godswill Akpabio did not disclose details of the discussions on the bill.
Instead, Akpabio announced burial arrangements for the late Okechukwu Ezea, who represented Enugu north senatorial district until his death.
No information was provided on the outcome of the deliberations on the Electoral Act.
The session followed the senate’s decision last week to constitute a seven-member ad hoc committee after an earlier three-hour executive session to further scrutinise the proposed amendments.
Announcing the committee, Akpabio said it was “mandated to contribute, galvanise and distil the opinion of senators on the bill”.
He said the panel is chaired by Niyi Adegbonmire, chairman of the senate committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters.
Other members of the committee are Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye, and Titus Zam.
Akpabio said the committee was given a maximum of three days to complete its assignment and report back to the senate.
Although the house of representatives has passed the bill, Akpabio urged caution from the upper chamber.
Despite repeated executive sessions, the senate has yet to pass the bill, marking the third unsuccessful attempt in two weeks.
The senate, however, said it will not rush the bill, citing the volume of post-election litigation after the 2023 polls and the need for careful legislative scrutiny.
Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader, earlier said the bill would significantly improve electoral credibility and institutional independence.
