The Senate has dismissed a proposed bill aiming to substitute the process of filling legislative vacancies through nominations rather than conducting fresh by-elections in the case of resignation, death, or vacancies in the Legislature, encompassing the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.
The bill, presented by Senator Karimi Sunday from Kogi-West Senatorial District, sought to amend the Electoral Act, 2022.
It proposed allowing political parties to nominate replacements for validly elected candidates in the event of a legislative vacancy instead of holding a new general election.
Senator Sunday defended the bill, emphasizing that the votes belonged to the political party, not the individual candidate, thus justifying the party’s right to nominate a replacement.
He suggested the option for the party to organize a primary election to select the replacement from the original participants in its initial election.
Highlighting the objective to curtail the substantial costs associated with conducting fresh by-elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Sunday argued for a cost-effective approach, citing practices in other democratic jurisdictions, including the USA.
However, despite the presentation, the bill failed to advance beyond the second reading.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio cautioned about potential conflicts with existing provisions in the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution, noting differences in nomination traditions within various jurisdictions.
Senator Suleiman Kawu opposed the bill vehemently, stressing that Nigeria, as a presidential democracy, wouldn’t align with the proposal.
He highlighted the importance of votes for individual candidates in a constitutional democracy.
Senate Majority Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele pointed out procedural errors in the bill’s presentation, highlighting the absence of a comprehensive brief detailing its advantages and disadvantages.
Despite advice to withdraw the bill, Senator Sunday insisted on its consideration by the ad-hoc committee on constitution alteration.
Ultimately, the bill was overwhelmingly rejected by senators in a voice vote called by Senator Akpabio.
