Nigerian Senate Amends Sections 145, 190

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INEC to release provisional timetable for 2011 election March 16.

The Senate on Wednesday amended Sections 145 and 190 of the 1999 constitution. The amendment coincided with Maurice Iwu, chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disclosing that the provisional time table for the 2011 general elections would be released on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 while the revalidation of voters' cards would commence in April. The passage of alteration of Sections 145 and 190 of the constitution by the Senate will now make it mandatory for the president and governors to transmit letters to either the National Assembly or state Assembly when out of the country or state within 14 days. The alteration also makes it mandatory for vice president and deputy governors to become acting president and governor if the incumbents fail to transmit letters within the stipulated period.

At the voice vote, two senators opposed the first amendment while four were against the second amendment, but the overall voice votes to alter the sections were overwhelming and the bill was read for third time and passed into law.

At a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives on the same alterations, Speaker Dimeji Bankole, who reiterated the commitment of the House to the amendment of the constitution, urged stakeholders to "make selfless contributions that will facilitate the accomplishment of this task, so that in the end, we can lay solid foundation for the speedy development of our democratic process and fast-track overall national development. "One of the cardinal objectives of the bill is to make election hold six months before the swearing-in of elected persons in order to allow the relevant courts sufficient time for the proper and conclusive disposal of all pending litigations on the elections of the federal and state legislatures, president and the state governors. We want to put behind us the frustrating and distracting experience of long election litigations, part of which resulted in the unenviable record of a post election petition that lasted about 40 months. "There is unanimity of opinion that at least the tension which the issue generated, has considerably subsided. As a firm believer in the principle of the rule of law and with all sense of modesty, I dare say that the National Assembly is determined to... ensuring that this democracy undergoes steady maturity and eventually stabilises."Iwu said that the commission has commenced the procurement of some electoral materials and that the exercise will end by July 2010, while it will embark on the procurement of sensitive electoral materials within eight weeks ahead of the election. He however noted that the commission would adjust its time table in line with the resolution of the National Assembly. On the timeline for the conduct of elections, Iwu who warned against political instability in the country, recommended 100 days for the conduct of election and swearing-in of elected president and all political officeholders as against 180 and 240 days proposed in the amendment of the Electoral Act.

Iwu added that the commission has also established three electronic data centres in Jigawa, Ogun and Abia states with a view to processing election data and help to develop electronic infrastructure. The INEC boss who expressed concern over the unhealthy criticism leveled against the commission on the conduct of the 2007 general elections, disclosed that some aggrieved politicians threatened to kill him ahead of the Anambra State governorship election, saying "there was an evil cabal in Lagos that recruited non-governmental organisations that did not exist and threatened to physically eliminate me and that I will not be around to conduct Anambra election. We do have evil people around us in this country. So the 180 days will allow them to destabilise our country. Our country also has an issue of being able to undergo electoral process without hitch."

Source: Senate amends Sections 145, 190

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