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Determined to prevent future confusion and uncertainties arising from statutory and legislative loopholes in the nation’s electoral system, the House of Representatives on Wednesday moved to amend the Electoral Act 2015 with a view to offering more legal protection to the position of the Deputy Governorship candidates and other related matters.
The House which consolidated six different bills of related headings if passed and signed into law would empower a running mate in election to assume the position of his/her principal in the event that the principal loses his/her life in the process of election before the results are announced as it was the case in Kogi State.
The consolidated Bills sponsored by Femi Gbajabiamila, House Leader, and five others are:
“The Bill for an Act to make provision to cover the lacuna in the event of death of a governorship candidate any time before the conclusion of an election;
A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act of 2015 to empower Election Tribunals and Courts to declare candidates who scored the second highest votes as winner of elections when the Tribunal or Court finds/holds that the winner of the election is unqualified for the election ab initio;
A Bill for an Act to ensure that all political parties are gender sensitive and to eliminate all forms of discrimination in all political parties;
A Bill for an Act to include the use of card readers as part of the Act and clearly specify the tenure of the office of the Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC);
A Bill for an Act to increase the amounts permitted as maximum election expenses to be incurred by candidates standing for elections; and
A Bill for an Act on nullification of election by Tribunals or Courts and for other related matters.”
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bills, Gbajabiamila told his colleagues: “It’s an unusual situation for somebody to pass on the verge of an electoral victory which is not something foreseen by existing laws.”
“So it becomes expedient, given the scenario that played out in Kogi to block the lacuna so that the Deputy Governorship candidate can inherit the votes of his principal in the event that the principal passes on before the results are declared.
“We also have the issue of card reader; we have elections where clearly, the card reader was ignored by certain section of voters. In several places, the use of the card reader has been seen not to be part of the law, and so it becomes necessary that this part of our law is amended to accommodate the use of electronic card readers. And to also provide that when the card reader malfunctions, the incident form can be used to accredit registered voters with a view to granting their franchise,” Gbajabiamila said.
Hon. Sunday Karimi in his contribution took a position relating to Section 142 of the Electoral Act, saying; “the Supreme court in the case of Dangana Vs Usman took a decision that has necessitated the need for us to amend the Act. A situation where the tribunal rules that a candidate who won an election was not qualified to contest election in the first place and the person who scored the second highest number of votes is not allowed to replace him leaves much to be desired.”
Credit: Independent
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