The Nigerian Senate has kicked out President Muhammdu Buhari’s Bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act, 2022.
The Bill titled: “A Bill for an Act to amend the Electoral Act 2022 and related matters, 2022,” was overwhelming rejected by Senators, a development that effectively stopped its second reading.
The Bill scaled first reading on Tuesday despite a court injunction barring the Senate from acting on it.
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan who challenged the Court order said the Judiciary cannot in any circumstances stop the Legislature from performing its constitutional duties as the two are independent arms of government.
Before the consideration of the Bill, Senator Adamu Aliero while citing order 52(5) of the Senate Standing Rules, urged the President of the Senate to abandon the proposed action on the Bill.
The President of the Senate made it clear that only lawmakers from the upper chamber of the National Assembly has the power to reject the Bill and not the judiciary seeking to stop the chamber from performing its lawful duties through an injunction.
After the debate, the Senators in protest overwhelmingly voted against the Bill from being pass for second reading.
