Election sequence: 10 senators may be sanctioned over comments
- The leadership of the Nigerian Senate may sanction 10 senators soon
- This is due to the senators stance on the 2019 election sequence amended by the Senate
- The senators had described the change as unconstitutional and an exercise in futility
A report by The Nation indicates that the Senate might sanction 10 senators over their position on the amendment of the Electoral Act.
The amendment of the Electoral Act led to changes in the 2019 election sequence. In the new arrangement, the Senate and House of Representatives elections will take place first, followed by governorship and House of Assembly polls. The presidential election will come last.
Following the adoption of conference report on the amendment, 10 senators rejected the changes, describing it as unconstitutional and exercise in futility.
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The upper chamber on Tuesday, February 20, mandated its committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions, to investigate alleged unsubstantiated comments credited to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central) and nine others on the issue.
The Senate said the 10 senators claimed that reordering of the election sequence targeted President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the 2019 general election.
The nine other senators are – Abdullahi Adamu, Abu Ibrahim, Benjamin Uwajumogu, Ali Wakil, Abdullahi Gumel, Binta Masi Garba, Yahaya Abdullahi, Andrew Uchendu and Umaru Kurfi.
The Senate decision to probe the senators’ conduct followed the adoption of a motion by Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) on the issue.
Melaye said the 10 senators misled Nigerians by claiming that the target of the amendment was President Buhari.
The Kogi West senator, who cited Order 14 of the Senate Standing Rules, urged his colleagues to refer the matter to the ethics, privileges and public petitions committee to investigate the claims made by senators.
Meanwhile, Senator Theodore Orji (Abia, PDP) said the reordering of the pyramid for the poll is not aimed at anyone but to deepen democracy in the country.
Senator Orji who is the immediate past governor of Abia state, maintained that it aims to fight corruption in elections in the country.
“If a particular party has produced the president then every other candidate of that party receives a boost, to the chargin of the electorates.
“That method breeds corruption because those prepared to serve the people will miss the opportunity and those who had other thoughts get elected and anything happens. We have looked at the situation and said no, something needs to be done," he said.
READ ALSO: Presidency allegedly uncomfortable with new order of elections
Legit.ng special report on Anambra governorship election on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
