Controversy over lawmakers' rejection of bill seeking absolute majority to win presidential and gubernatorial elections

• The legislators to prioritize policy on authentic electoral reforms, opposition evenings allege• Bill unfair, undemocratic – PCI chair• It is A recipe For instability, said Ajanaku

THE rejection of A piece of legislation that look for has to modify Sections 134 And 179 of THE 1999 Constitution has include THE requirement of to secure has less 50 by hundred voice has be elected president Or governor by THE Home of Representatives has sets off controversial among Nigerians. Although THE opposition evenings allege that THE the legislators could to have priority policy on authentic electoral reforms, a few policy analysts gave he hard hits, SODIQ OMOLAOYE reports.

HAS A recent legislative session, the legislators In THE Home of Representatives in chorus A resounding "No" has A propose Invoice mandate presidential And governorship candidates has secure more that 50 by hundred of THE total voice casting has be declared winners.

THE rejected Invoice, sponsored by Awaji-Inombek Abiant (PDP, Rivers), looking for has impose A strict requirement on presidential And governorship hopes by convincing them has pick up A absolute majority has THE survey has be declared winner.

THE Invoice research has to modify sections 134 And 179 of THE 1999 Constitution by deletion THE simple majority ruler For presidential And governorship candidates.

THE 1999 Constitution provides that has earn THE presidential election, A candidate needs has get 25 by hundred of THE voice In has less two-thirds of THE 36 States And THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT), along with A generally simple majority.

If A candidate failed has meet both requirements, A runoff will occur between THE candidate with THE The highest vote count And THE candidate with THE most voice through most States.

Section 134 (1) of THE Constitution States that A candidate For A election has THE Desk of President duty be judge has to have has been duly elected, Or THE candidate has THE majority of voice casting has THE election; And has not less that A quarter of THE voice casting has THE election In each of has less two-thirds of all THE States In THE Federation And THE Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

A lot Nigerians believe that THE rejected legislation research has avoid A repeat of THE situation witnessed In THE 2023 presidential election When THE candidate of THE decision All Progressives Congress (APC), Bolas Ahmed Tinubu, off hook victory by collect 8.79 million voice representative about 37 by hundred of THE total voice throw.

If Abiant propose frame were applied For THE 2023 election, Tinubu would be not to have has been declared THE winner In THE First of all ballot as THE Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) would be to have called For A runoff election between him And her the closest rival, Atiku Abubakar, of THE Peoples Democratic To party (PDP), WHO brand 6,984,520 voice has emerge second In THE election.

Presenting THE Invoice, Abiant propose that In A presidential race with more that two candidates, A candidate must secure A majority of THE total votes, which constitutes on 50 by hundred. He propose that THE even frame should Also be used For governorship elections.

Nevertheless, Abiant was denied THE opportunity has throw THE debate on THE Invoice by THE legislators. During THE session, Speaker Abbas Tajudine called For THE Invoice has be considered For A second while reading, but THE dissident "No" surpassed THE proof "yes."

Surprised by THE turn of events, THE Speaker led another round of voice vote, which Again favored those opposite THE Invoice. Afterwards, he governed In service of those advocating For THE propose legislation has be rejected.

Home of Representatives.Photo:Twitter

THE Guardian gathered that THE rejection of THE Invoice worsen apprehension among a few members of THE opposition evenings, WHO accused THE the legislators of playing little policy with A critical legislation. They argued that even if THE propose legislation won't be pass In law, THE the legislators should to have had A appropriate debate on It is merits And demerits.

A few policy observers, WHO share THE feeling of those angry by THE action of THE legislators, argue that such legislation would be ensure that A elected president Or governor reaps in large scale support Since THE electorate For bigger legitimacy And representation In governance.

But reviews of THE proposal insist that even if THE Invoice East pass In law, he will not solve th...