Reps reject bills on rotational presidency, INEC’s power to register political parties
The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, rejected a constitutional amendment bill seeking to rotate the offices of the president and vice president among the six geopolitics zones.
Also, the lawmakers rejected another seeking to strip the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of its powers to register and regulate political parties.
The proposal aimed to transfer these powers to the Office of the Registrar-General of Political Parties.
This bill, co-sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, and Francis Waive, was presented for second reading. But it was voted down after a voice vote conducted by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary.
Rotational presidency
The bill on rotation, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, sought to establish the principle of rotation for the offices of the president and vice president among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones: North Central, North East, North West, South East, South South, and South West.
Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Madaki, led the opposition to the bill, saying that issues the bill intend to tackle have been addressed by the Federal Character Commission, warning that the issue of rotation should not be included in the constitution, but allowed to remain the way it is.
He argued that political parties already have mechanism to ensure fair representations during elections.
On his part, Shina Oyedeji (PDP, Oyo) said if the rotational principle holds, states and tribes in the regions will start agitations for fairness and justice.
He said: “If you adopt zoning and it comes to the South-West for example, which state will take the position? Is it Ogun or Oyo.”
For Sada Soli (APC, Katsina) the proposed alteration is ingenuous. However, he wondered whether it will work against the issue of quality.
He noted that adopting the rotation principle will not be in the interest of the country.
Others rejected
Other rejected bills included: HB. 2288: A bill to alter the Constitution to provide for the establishment, independence, and functions of the Offices of State Auditors-General for Local Governments and the Federal Capital Territory Area Councils.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, sought to strengthen fiscal oversight, promote accountability, and enhance good governance at the grassroots level.
Another bill sponsored by Rep. Ihonvbere, proposing to increase the number of judges in the Federal High Court to no fewer than 100, or such other number as prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.
Also sponsored by Rep. Ihonvbere, this bill proposed to expand the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to include admiralty matters, shipping and navigation on the River Niger, River Benue and their tributaries, all federal ports, and carriage by sea.
A bill seeking to empower the National Judicial Council, in collaboration with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, to fix and review the salaries, allowances, and other emoluments of judicial officers and judiciary staff. This bill was likewise sponsored by Rep. Ihonvbere.
A bill sponsored by Rep. Francis Ejiroghene Waive proposing the creation of Ughelli East Local Government Area in Delta State.
While some lawmakers supported the bills, others opposed them. When the question was put to a voice vote, the majority voted against.
Following the rejection, the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business appealed to the Speaker to reconsider the decision, suggesting that the bills be addressed individually rather than as a group.
However, Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Ali Jesse, raised a point of order citing Order 9, Rule 6, which requires that any decision to rescind a vote must be brought forward as a substantive motion on notice. The Speaker concurred and directed the Committee on Rules and Business to list the motion for rescission on the order paper for the next legislative day.
