• Friday, March 29, 2024
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Reps hail Supreme Court judgment on section 84 (12) of Electoral Act

Bill to protect endangered species passes first reading

The House of Representatives has hailed the Supreme Court judgement which struck out the suit by President Muhammadu Buhari seeking to void the provision of section 84 (12) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2022.

Benjamin Kalu, the spokesperson of the House gave the commendation while speaking with journalists, weekend, in Abuja.

The court on June 24, said the president lacked the power to direct the National Assembly to amend or enact an act, adding that it violated the principle of separation of power.

According to the judgement, there is no part of the constitution that makes the exercise of legislative power subject to the directive of the president.

Kalu, however, said that the House of Reps was happy with the Supreme Court judgement, adding that the House was not expecting anything less because the judges were erudite scholars.

“These are people who have followed the trend of events and understand the separation of power and the mandate of each arm of the government.

“They understand that the separation of power is one of the tools of democracy and each arm focuses on the responsibilities of their mandate,” he said.

Read also: Supreme Court judgment: Lawyers say Buhari derailed in issuing Executive Order 10

He said that the mandate of the House was law-making with the intention of breaching a gap created in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that was not captured.

He said that the House of Reps could only do this by looking at section 84 (12) of the Electoral Amendment Act.

“Although, many of you thought that it was either self-serving or targeted at individuals, but the law is made to advance our democracy, especially to increase the competitive elements in our democracy for credible elections.’’

He added that the competitive element was necessary to advance the country’s democracy.

“This judgement is unequivocally embracing and heart-warming, it is not a victory for the House of Reps but for the advancement of our democracy and the rule of law.

He described the judgement as a victory for the supremacy of law-making and the National Assembly.

“Let us celebrate this victory, the judiciary has added its own quota to the advancement of democracy, the Electoral Act, nation-building is a joint task,” he said.