POLITICS
Electoral Act: Presiding Officer Scuttles Move to Override Buhari’s Veto

.Resists Debate on Motion
. Sponsor Expresses Shock, Lost
By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
The first move to override President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto on Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act 2022 yesterday, suffered a major setback in the House of Representatives, as the Presiding Officer of the plenary, and Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, vehemently resisted a motion brought to debate the matter.
Hon.
Ben Rollands Igbakpa had brought a motion on the “Need to Invoke Section 58(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to pass again the Electoral Act, 2022”, which was rightly listed on the order paper, having been invited by Wase, the Presiding Officer of the plenary to move the motion.Igbakpa noted that, “by virtue of section 58(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, Laws shall be exercised by Bills passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and, except as
otherwise provided by Section 58 (5) of the Constitution, assented to by the President.
“Aware that on Thursday, 12 May, 2022 the National Assembly transmitted to the President for assent, the Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act, 2022 which amended Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act, 2022 to allow Statutory Delegates to participate in political parties congresses and conventions;
“Also aware that by virtue of the provision of Section 58(4) the President has 30 days to assent to the aforementioned Electoral Amendment Act, 2022 or formally communicate to the National Assembly his
decision to decline assent;
“Concerned that the time frame for the President to assent or decline assent to the Bill has elapsed since 11 June, 2022;
“Also concerned that the actions or inactions of the president to perform his constitutional duty is an affront to Section 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 which empowers the National Assembly to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Federation or any part thereof;
“Conscious that Section 58 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 empowers the National Assembly to override the President when he vetoes a Bill or fails, refuses and/or neglects to act thereto, through a two-third majority vote;
“Worried that the continued inaction of the President in either assenting or vetoing the Bill has left a lacuna in Nigeria’s constitutional democracy which portends danger to the 2023 electoral process and other
subsequent staggered elections of some states thus, leaving the Congress of Political Parties in the hands of ad-hoc delegates to the detriment of statutory delegates;
“Convinced that a prompt action by the Honourable House to cure the patent constitutional lacuna is imperative by invoking Section 58 (5) of the constitution which states that where the President withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by two-thirds majority, the Bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required”, Hon Igbakpa said in his motion on the floor.
He prayed the House to resolve that, “(i) Invoke Section 58(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) with respect to the Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act, 2022 i.e, Amendment of Section 84(8) thereof to allow Statutory delegates to participate in Political Parties Congress and convention; “(ii) communicate the position of the House of Representatives to the Senate for concurrence.”
But rather than ask for a seconder for the motion, Hon Wase, who presided over the plenary picked issues with the motion, raising the obstacle that it was lacking in procedure.
“Before we get a seconder for the motion, you know in our standing rules, we have procedures. You can’t come with motion to override the President.
“If you are interested, write to the Speaker seeking for that to happen. Step down your motion and follow the procedure”, the Presiding Officer, Wase told Igbakpa.
Responding, Hon Igbakpa said he was lost by the advice of Wase, stressing that, “On Thursday, I met with the Speaker and the Speaker directed what I am doing”, insisting that there was confusion somewhere.
“I am doing this for the Nigerian people out there. It is a constitutional order. If you say I should step down, I will do it right away”, Hon Igbakpa submitted.
Consequently, the Deputy Speaker insisting on not continuing with the motion said, “for you to override on anything you need two-third members, not to come by way of motion. That is why I am guiding you”, the Deputy Speaker insisted, adding that it was not even the two-third of members present at the sitting but of the entire number in the House.
The Presiding Officer therefore went ahead to rule for a stepping down the motion by the leave of the House.
Hon Igbakpa had last week raised a point of constitutional order on this matter, which now informed his coming up with a motion after his said meeting with Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.
POLITICS
Buhari Felicitates Tinubu at Midterm, Calls for Nigerians’ continue support

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated his successor, President Bola Tinubu, on his midterm, calling for Nigerians’ continue support for his administration’s efforts to address poverty and inflation.
This is contained in a statement issued by Buhari’s former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Wednesday.
Buhari also called for steadfast support for the All Progressives Congress-led government as it marks its second year in office, saying reforms would achieve success gradually, not overnight.
He warned that necessary reforms and desired changes must not fall victim to mettlesome domestic politics.
According to him, as the party and the government celebrate, the country should be reminded that leadership is a continuous journey.
Buhari expressed support for the ongoing efforts by the Tinubu-led administration to curb poverty and inflation, which, he said, had hit the poorest families.
Seeking Nigerians’ support for Tinubu-led administration, he said that the task of reducing poverty and inflation mustn’t be left only for the government.
“The private sector and all of us, as citizens, must join in all ways we can,” he said.
The former president urged Nigerians to remain optimistic and stay confident about the country’s future, saying ‘our expectations from our governments should not get heavy’.
While expressing his heartfelt felicitation to Tinubu on his two years in office, Buhari prayed God to keep and grant him the wisdom and care to continue to lead the country. (NAN)

President Tinubu Appoints Ex- Speaker, Enugu Assembly, Odo, as UNN Governing Council Member
President Bola Tinubu has appointed the former speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Eugene Odo, and Mr. Muhammad Tahir, as governing council members of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
The appointment comes as part of the President’s renewed efforts to reposition federal tertiary institutions for excellence and global competitiveness.
Odo served as a two time speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly between 2007 and 2015.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain also served under the previous administration of Muhammad Buhari as a governing board member of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
Also appointed were the governing councils members of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) and Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka.
The appointments were contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, in Abuja.
Onanuga said President Tinubu charged the new council members to justify their appointments by ensuring that their respective universities move forward.(NAN)
POLITICS
PDP NEC Gets Under Way in Abuja

By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja
All is set for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 99th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting today at the party’s Presidential Campaign Office, Legacy House, located in the Maitama District, Abuja. After a marathon meeting of the various organs of the PDP at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge, officials of the party have converged on Legacy House for the long awaited NEC meeting, which had been postponed for several times.
Security in and around the house has been beefed up with the deployment operatives from the Police, DSS and NSCDC. Many prominent members of the party, including its 2023 Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, were absent from the marathon meeting.The NEC, one of the highest decision-making organs of the PDP, comprises of Party National Chairman and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC), state governors, serving and former presidents, former vice-presidents, the chairman and secretary of the Board of Trustees (BoT), principal officers of the National Assembly, state chairpersons, former governors, and founding members, among others. The NEC meeting is expected to address critical issues affecting the party, including strategies for upcoming political engagements, leading to the 2027 general elections.On Monday, barely 24 hours to the much expected NEC meeting, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) keep to its threat and sealed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat, Wuse Zone 5 for failure to ground rent, a situation the party described as temporary set back.However, reprieve came to the PDP and others who had their properties sealed as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, intervened and gave them 14 days to pay their ground rent.