Reps to sack any partisan INEC officials

House of Representatives has introduced a bill for the sack of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) found to be partisan or members of a political party.

The proposed legislation sponsored by the member representing Darazo/ Ganjuwa federal constituency of Bauchi State, Manu Soro, is seeking the alteration of Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to introduce a new sub section four.

The proposed legislation provides that whenever there is allegation of partisanship or membership of a political party against a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) or any member of INEC,either of the two chambers of the National Assembly shall investigate the allegation.

Since the inception of the current democratic dispensation in 1999, appointments of INEC national commissioners and RECs are most times trailed by controversies with the opposition accusing the ruling party of appointing its members and sympathizers as electoral umpires.

However, the proposed legislation stipulates that when the allegation of partisanship is established, the INEC official concerned shall stand removed from office immediately the report of the investigation is adopted by the legislative house that conducted the investigation.

The proposed sub section 4 read:“Notwithstanding the provision of this constitution or any other law to the contrary, where an allegation of partisanship or political party affiliation levelled against a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission or Residential Electoral Commissioner is investigated by either House of the National Assembly and found to be true, such a member or commissioner shall stand removed on the adoption of the report of such investigation by that House.” The bill, according to the explanatory memorandum, is intended to ensure good conduct of electoral officers and improve the credibility of our elections.

Similarly, the House proposed an amendment to the Electoral Act 2022 to enable lawmakers elected in off-season elections to serve for a full term of four years.

The bill sponsored by the member representing Enugu East/ Isi-Uzo federal constituency of Enugu State, Professor Paul Nnamchi and 17 others has scaled first reading and is awaiting second reading.

The bill is proposing an amendment to Section 57 of the Electoral Act 2022 to provide that (1) “in the event that the tenure of a member of the legislature is cut short as a result of a judicial decision or other off season election held for a similar cause, an off-season election shall be conducted to fill that seat.”

Subsection 2 of the proposed amendment states that the newly elected member shall serve for an original four year term, commencing from the date he is sworn in.

Nevertheless, Sub section 3 states that the provision shall not apply to seats declared vacant due to death or incapacitation. It noted that in such cases, a by-election shall be conducted to fill the seat for the remaining part of the tenure.

The proposed legislation also provides for the conduct of off-season election into a legislative House by INEC within a period not exceeding 90 days from the date of the judicial decision or as otherwise prescribed by the law.