NATIONAL NATIONAL

Reps To Appeal Court Judgment On Electoral Act

Written by Godwin Duru

House of Representatives has resolved to appeal the judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, directing the Attorney General of the Federation to delete section 84(12) from the electoral act amendment bill recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The resolution was sequel to a motion by a member from Katsina State Alhaji Sada Soli Jibia, deliberated by the house during its plenary session.

Alhaji Sada Soli, who expressed displeasure with the judgement, said it was aimed at usurping the powers of lawmaking conferred on the lawmakers by the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Contributing to the debate, the house leader Alhassan Ado Doguwa, challenged the court judgement describing it as encroaching on the principle of separation of powers.

Alhassan Ado Doguwa, also condemned the the court’s ruling which described the section as unconstitutional, invalid, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

Adopting the motion the Speaker Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, confirmed that the house will petition the National Judicial Council(NJC) about the conduct of the judge who gave judgement against the National Assembly even when they were not parties to the suit.

He directed the Attorney General of the Federation to stay action on the implementation of the judgement pending the appeal of the National Assembly on the matter.

COV : TSIBIRI