Senate Amends Constitution To Empower INEC To Deregister Psrties That Gain No Electoral Support

Nigerian Senate has on Wednesday looked at areas up for review in the 1999 constitution that deal with the Electoral Act.

The lawmakers have approved an amendment that empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister any political party that fails to win any seat in the National Assembly or State House of Assembly, Channels Television reports.
Although some senators asked for more time to study the report of the Constitutional Amendment Committee headed by the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, the voting began and lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favour of all the clauses up for amendment.
On Thursday the senators will vote on the controversial Section 9 that deals with the procedure of drafting an entirely new constitution.
Senate Amends Constitution To Empower INEC Deregister Psrties That Gain No Electoral Support
The need for a new constitution has been emphasised by some Nigerian lawyers who argue that the country needs a law that will have inputs from Nigerians and not one put together by past military administrations.
This issue has also been discussed at the ongoing National Conference set up by President Goodluck Jonathan.
If the Senate amends the constitution to enable the president to initiate production of a new constitution, the recommendations of the National Conference, which would be submitted to Jonathan, could be forwarded to the lawmakers for deliberations and entrenchment into the constitution.
In May, President Jonathan asked Nigerian media to support his idea of drafting a new constitution. Read here what the Naij.com readers have to contribute to the discussion.