Bill to Permit Political Parties to Replace NASS Members Cancelled by Senate

The Senate has rejected a measure to change the Electoral Act 2022, which was to enable political parties to choose and replace legitimately elected candidates when members of the National Assembly (NASS) or state assemblies resign, die, or have their seats vacated, among other things.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Karimi Sunday of the Kogi West Senatorial District, informed that it aims to modify the Electoral Act 2022 so that the winning political party can choose and replace members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly in the event of a vacancy caused by the resignation or death of a serving member.

According to him, the main goal of the measure is to prevent the expenditure of public funds on holding new elections in federal and state constituencies.

But many of his fellow lawmakers didn’t buy into the legislator’s reasoning for this decision.

He was then offered the chance to withdraw or amend the bill by Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, but he turned it down.

After that, the measure was rejected by a simple majority vote.