By Princely Onyenwe, Abuja
It is shocking to believe that the House of Reps will chat a motion to floor Buhari’s inaction of Electoral law today Thursday 16-06-2022.
9News Nigeria gathered that a member of the House of Representatives will, on Thursday, introduce a motion to commence the overriding of President Muhammadu Buhari’s inaction over Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act.
The decision followed a constitutional point of order raised by Ben Igbakpa (PDP, Delta) on the refusal of PRESIDENT Buhari to sign the amended electoral bill.
The National Assembly had passed an amendment to Section 84(8) to include statutory delegates as eligible voters in primary elections. The Senate passed the bill on May 10 while the House passed the same bill on May 11. However, Mr Buhari is yet to sign the bill.
Most parties had to use elected delegates to nominate candidates for all offices during primaries.
Hon. Igbakpa, in his point of order, appealed to his colleagues and Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila to veto the president.
He stated that Mr Buhari created problems across the country by not signing the amended bill, noting that the legislative arm is not subservient to the executive arm.
The lawmaker added that the House should commence the collection of signatures to override the president.
While presenting his points, Igbakpa stated that they must wake up as a parliament.
“Where we pass laws and we are sure that we have done the right thing, we should start overriding Mr President, because this is just the beginning.
“Today, the NDDC Act is in force because the parliament, which you were part of, did it. Why are we afraid? Mr President has not committed any offence. What he has done is the rule of law and the Constitution, and I believe by the time we do our own by overriding his veto, we would not have committed any offence,” he said.
He added that “if we are sure we have done what is right to the Electoral Act 2022, rise, take our pens, collect signatures and by the grace of God, override Mr President and give Nigerians the enabling electoral law that will stand the test of time.”
In his ruling, Mr Gbajabiamila asked the lawmaker to present a substantive motion on Thursday dated 16-06-2022.
Mr Gbajabiamila explained that the power to override the president is discretionary and that lawmakers will decide if they are overriding the president or not.
“For us to override, I believe we require a two-thirds majority and it cannot be by voice vote neither can it be by way of signatures unless, of course, you have enough two-thirds by signatures.
“What I will suggest is that you bring the application – a formal motion on notice – perhaps on Thursday or whenever you are able to do that and we will determine whether or not this House is ready to override or not,” Speaker Gbajabiamila posited.
But the question of the people has been, can this motion be trashed out or be put to use as a bill before the election?
9News Nigeria (Owerri) For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526
