Uncategorized – Page 5 – Nigeria Decide Blog

As Senate decides Jonathan’s power to initiate new constitution

The Senate will this week vote on the proposed amendments in the report submitted by the Senator Ike Ekweremadu-led Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. SUNDAY ABORISADE writes on the likely implications of this exercise.

As it is to be expected, senators expressed divergent views when the Senator Ike Ekweremadu-led Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution submitted its report in the form of a bill.

According to Ekweremadu, the bill titled, ‘An Act to further alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and for other matters connected therewith, 2013’, is aimed at among other things, strengthening the legal framework for processing a new constitution.

He recalled that the Senate, at its sitting of Thursday, July 1, 2013, voted on some of his committee’s recommendations. He explained that while expecting the inauguration of a Conference Committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives to harmonise areas of differences, members of his committee received six additional requests, which could have far-reaching implications on the electoral process. […more]

Ex-Bayelsa gov supports Amaechi

Former governor of Bayelsa State and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, has assured the Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi, that the Bayelsa chapter of the APC would work with him to flush out the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government in the next election.

Speaking when he led party executives and supporters of the APC in Bayelsa on a courtesy call on Governor Amaechi in the Government House, Port Harcourt at the weekend, Sylva said they came to show their solidarity with the Rivers State governor. […more]

2015 Elections: Jonathan Restates Commitment To Conducting Credible Polls

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians and the international community that he is more committed than ever before to making the 2015 elections more credible than the 2011 elections.

The President said this when he received the report of the National Forum on Electoral Reform, headed by former Senate President, Ken Nnamani.

The President commended the efforts and what he called painstaking commitment of the forum to come up with the report, which […more]

Adeleke, Osun PDP Governorship Aspirant Petitions National Leadership On Conduct Of Primaries

The first Executive Governor of Osun State and one of the aspirants of the just concluded People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries in the state, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, has said that in spite of the result declared, he has no intention of crossing to any other party.

Addressing his delegates gathered from across the 30 Local Government Areas of the state in Ede, Osun State, Senator Adeleke stated that he would seek redress from the national secretariat of the party, saying that the ward congress preceding last Saturday’s governorship primary of the PDP was marred with “irregularities”. […more]

Ondo State LP Rejects INEC Declaration Of Ilaje/Ese-Odo By-Election Inconclusive

The Labour Party in Ondo State has expressed shock at the reluctance, refusal of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer to declare the winner of the By-election into Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency.

In a statement by the Acting Chairman of the party in the state, Dele Akinyele, the party noted that the election took place and returns were made in 21 out of 22 wards that made up the Federal Constituency, and the returning officer’s duty was to collate the lawful votes from various units and wards, and declare the candidate that scored majority of lawful votes. […more]

The Flaws In Nigeria’s Electoral Law Ahead Of 2015 Elections

Nigerian Politician, Jimi Agbaje, believes that the 2010 amendment of the country’s Electoral Act is not entirely a bad law but that the challenge for Nigeria remains how to implement the laws.

Jimi Agbaje was a guest on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Sunday, April 6.

While advocating the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission to raise its game and earn the confidence of Nigerians, he recalled the contrast between the 2007 elections conducted by the INEC which he referred to as a disaster, and the improvement witnessed in the 2011 election which “provided hope for Nigerians.” […more]

Ekiti Election: Fayemi Says People’s Welfare Remains Priority

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has revealed that the welfare of Ekiti people remains priority to his administration.

Speaking during his re-election campaign rally in Oye Local Government of Ekiti State, the Governor said that he had been tested ok, with his performance in the last three years being also verifiable, including the peace which has been restored in the state.

He also challenged candidates from other political parties to […more]

Bill To Amend Electoral Act Passes 2nd Reading

A bill to amend the 2010 Electoral Act to put the burden of proving the regularity of any election on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has passed second reading in the Senate.

The sponsor of the bill, Senator Hadi Sirika, in his debate said that the responsibility of proving the regularity of an election ought to be the duty of the body or organization that arranged for the conduct of the election and thereafter conducted the said election.

A federal lawmaker, Senator Heineken Lopobiri, however, disagreed, saying the bill is at variance with the laws of the country.

Party Registration: Court Fixes May 30 For Judgment

A court in Abuja has fixed May 30 for judgment in the suit instituted by a political association, Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the commission’s refusal to register it as a political party.

At the resumed hearing of the suit at the Federal High Court on Wednesday presided over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, a lawyer representing the DPC, Ezekiel Ofou, told the court that the association had fulfilled all requirements necessary for it to be registered as a political party and urged the court to compel INEC to register them. […more]

Justice Ademola Did Not Order 37 Lawmakers To Vacate Seats – APC

Interim National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress, Lai Mohammed

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that Justice Adeniyi Ademola did not order the 37 members of the House of Representatives who defected to the APC to vacate their seats because he is not competent to issue such a ruling, as the issue of whether not they can defect was not before him.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said that it would appeal the ruling because Justice Ademola’s perpetual injunction restraining the concerned lawmakers from participating in motions and debates in the House is unconstitutional and defeats the very purpose for which the members were elected into the House. […more]