All Progressives Congress (APC) federal lawmakers yesterday blocked a fresh move to summon the chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega over the preparedness of the commission to conduct the March and April election.
Recall that Jega had appeared before the Senate on Wednesday to explain the postponement of the election.
The House deputy majority leuchader, Leo Ogor (Delta/PDP) had raised a motion at Wednesday’s calling for Jega’s summon. But when the motion was put to a voice vote, it was roundly rejected by the APC lawmakers who now form majority in the House.
The distribution of House members and their party membership shows: APC (182); PDP (155) other parties (23). The House has 360 members.
Meanwhile, the House will today debate the legality or otherwise the deployment of the military in Nigerian elections.
This followed a motion by the House Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila calling for extensive debates.
Gbajabiamila (Lagos/APC) cited video and audio evidence reportedly exposing the planning and rigging of the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State by top government officials and the military.
“It is a matter that is very important. It is a matter that this House has to address to determine whether the military has a role to play in our elections.” Gbajabiamila said.
Last August, INEC backed an amendment of the Electoral Act which constitutionally limits the role of the Nigerian Armed Forces in elections.
The commission in a position paper presented by its chairman, Attahiru Jega backed the amendment of Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act which inserts a new paragraph(b) that limits the role of the military to “securing the distribution and delivery of electoral materials”.
The new paragraph(b) reads in part: “The commission shall be responsible for requesting for the deployment of relevant security personnel necessary for elections or registration of voters and shall assign them in the manner determined by the commission in consultation with the relevant security agencies
