By Olusegun Lawrence The Senate Wednesday empowered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister any political party that could not win at least a seat in any of the State Houses of Assembly in the country.
All the 89 members who participated in the voting exercise were in support of Clause 6 of the amended Act empowering INEC to deregister political parties that fail to win Presidential, Governorship, Chairmanship of a local government area, or a seat in the National or States Assembly elections.
The Upper Chamber voted in support of the new power for INEC after clause by clause voting of amendment of the 1999 constitution.
Prompt News recalls that INEC has also faced litigation whenever it moved to deregister political parties that are considered not active.
The senate also approved clause six and seven which seek the alteration of Section 68 and 109 to mandate the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Clerks of States Houses of Assembly to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission of any vacancy.
The new clause says Clerks are expected to write within seven days of the existence of a vacancy arising from death, resignation or defection of a member of the National Assembly or a member of the State House of Assembly respectively.
The senators also voted in support of clauses four and five which also seek to alter Section 134 and 179 that relates with the extension of the time for conducting presidential and governorship re-run election.
The clauses prescribed the extension from seven days to 21 days after results have been announced.
In addition, the Senators voted in support of Clause seven which deals with the conferment of exclusive jurisdiction on the Federal High Court for the trial of electoral offences.
With the approval, federal high courts would be solely responsible for the trial of offences arising from, pertaining to or connected to the violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act and any other election related act of the National Assembly.
They also approved Clause eight of the amendments which also seek to alter the Third Schedule of the Constitution to include former Senate Presidents and Speakers of the House of Representatives as members of the Council of States.
The senate deferred voting on the controversial amendments to Section 9 (3a) which confers on the President, the power to initiate a new constitution.
The upper chamber will also vote on Clause 3 (m) which will mandate the INEC to within six months of the receipt of the draft constitution cause a referendum to be conducted to approve the draft constitution.
It will also vote on cause 3 (n), which states that, “If the Draft constitution receives a simple majority of votes cast in 2/3 of all states of the federation, it shall come into force as constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Other amendments contained in the electoral act, are among others, seeking powers for INEC to issue duplicate voter cards before election, determine voting procedure, holding of elections on a single day, and cause the electoral body to conduct debate for all candidates who are contesting election into the office of President.
Also, the President of the Senate, and all former Senate Presidents, Speaker of House of Representatives, all former Speakers of the House of Representatives are now members of Council of State.