Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, has said that the decision of the Senate to subject INEC’s constitutional power to conduct elections to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and National Assembly is patently unconstitutional.
Tambuwal, who is also the governor of Sokoto State, in a statement he issued in Abuja, on Thursday, said INEC’s constitutional power could not be shared with any institution.
Read him: “For the avoidance of doubt, S.78 of the Constitution provides that ‘The Registration of voters and the conduct of elections shall be subject to the direction and supervision of Independent National Electoral Commission’.
“In the Third Schedule, Part 1,F, S.15: INEC has power to organise, undertake and supervise all elections.
“The Constitution further provides that INEC operations shall not be subject to the direction of anybody or authority.”
Tambuwal said that unquestionably, the mode of election and transmission of results were critical parts of the conduct, supervision, undertaking and organisation of elections in Nigeria.
Tambuwal said that the senate decision to subject INECs constitutional power to conduct elections to NCC was consequently patently void, unconstitutional and unlawful.
Tambuwal, however, commended the leadership and members of the House for the decision to invite INEC to address the House and nation on its readiness by 2023 to deploy electronic transmission technology in the country’s elections, seemed to be a wise one.
He commended the leadership and members of the House for the decision.
He further admonished them to remain on the path of patriotism and deepening of Nigeria democracy by engendering and strengthening free and fair electoral process
“In any case, I still believe that the best option is to leave this matter in the hands of INEC.
“We admonish INEC to be solely guided by the National interest and the desire of all Nigerians for a credible, free and fair elections in using its constitutional powers and in the deployment of error free technology.” (NAN)
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