The controversial bill seeking to reorder the election sequence earlier released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been suspended by the National Assembly, shortly after the invasion of the Senate by some hoodlums. Recall that the National Assembly had amended the electoral act, changing the sequence of the election.
The proposal had placed the National Assembly election first, followed by the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly election and the Presidential election coming last.
The Bill was rejected by the President on three major grounds. Following the decision of the President to withhold assent, last week the House of Representatives moved to appease the state governors by bringing the governorship and state house of elections first followed by the national assembly and the presidential election respectively.
Although the Bill enjoyed enormous support among members of both chambers, some senators claimed that it was targeted at the President. The senators led by Adamu Abdullahi and Omo-Agege held a press conference to reiterate their resolve to mobilize their colleagues against a possible plot to override the President's veto.
Their position had led to Sen. Omo-Agege's suspension and the removal of Sen. Abdullahi's as the Chairman of Northern Senators' Forum.
On Wednesday, the Senate referred the Bill to the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission, with a mandate to expunge the clauses faulted by President Muhammadu Buhari, for which he withdrew his assent. The Bill had suffered setback when several senators raised various issues against the amendment.
