The Nigerian Senate has passed the amended versionof the controversial Electoral Act, removing all contentious sections, such as the reordered election sequence, the matter which prompted the President to decline assent to the Bill.
The passage follows deliberation at the Red Chamber after the Chairman of the Committee on INEC, Senator Suleiman Nazif, presented the Committee’s report at Thursday’s plenary.
Section 25 which contains the contentious Election Sequence is one of those deleted from the Electoral Act.
As part of the amendment of the Electoral Act, any electoral officer responsible for the omission of political party logo risks imprisonment for up to two years.
Following the passage of the Electoral Act, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, says it will enhance the 2019 general elections.
In a related development, the Senate has reversed the confirmation of Elder Monday Udo Tom as Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, as a result of a point of order raised by Senator Bassey Akpan.
The matter was subsequently referred to the Committee on INEC for further legislative work.
Recall that Elder Monday Udo Tom is one of four INEC Commissioners confirmed by the Senate at Wednesday’s plenary.
Meanwhile, the Senate has embarked on a three-weekSallah break, with the lawmakers now scheduled to resume on Juky 3.