Electoral Act: FG to Remove Section Barring Political Appointees From Contesting Elections

• The federal government says it will go ahead to gazette the amended Electoral Act 2022, but remove Section 84 (12) of the law
• The announcement was made by a spokesman for the office of the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Dr Umar Gwandu
• This is coming after Abubakar Malami was ordered by a Federal High Court to immediately delete the contentious section of the Act

The provision of Section 84 (12) of the newly amended Electoral Act 2022 will be removed, according to the federal government, Daily Trust reports.

This section of the Act states that no political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.

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Legit.ng gathered that according to a court judgement political appointees will be allowwed to run for office without resigning.

President Muhammadu Buhari had called on the National Assembly to delete the provision saying it violated the Constitution and breached the rights of government appointees. However, the Nigerian leader's request was rejected.

Court orders Malami to delete section

In another report by Channels TV, a Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia state nullified the Section and ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to immediately delete the provision.

Justice Evelyn Anyadike on Friday, March1 18, ruled that the section was unconstitutional, adding that it is in violation of the clear provisions of the Constitution.

Malami in reaction to the court ruling said the section will be deleted accordingly. Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, the spokesman of the minister made this known in a statement issued on Malami's behalf.

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Gwandu noted that the attorney general of the federation would obey the court order, delete the “offensive” provision and gazette the act.

He said:

“The judgement of the court will be recognized by the Government printers in printing the Electoral Act.

“The Act will be gazetted factoring the effect of the judgement into consideration and deleting the constitutionally offensive provision accordingly.

“The provision of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022 is not part of our law and will be so treated accordingly.

Electoral Act: National Assembly members should bury their heads in shame over Section 84 (12), Lamido fumes

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido reacted to the recent electoral act that was assented to by President Buhari.

The chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has blamed the federal lawmakers over their selfish interests for bringing in section 84 (12), which Buhari asked them to delete.

The politician noted that who went down through memory lane, spoke extensively about the tussle between members of the National Assembly and the state governors admitted that senators are only interested in promoting their selfish gains in the polity.

Source: Legit.ng