Nigerian Senate says it will appeal the judgement of a Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia state which ordered the nullification of the controversial section 84 (12) of the amended Electoral Act.
Senator George Sekibo of the (PDP, Rivers) and 80 others had on Monday, moved a motion to seek to be joined in the suit that sought the annulment of the Section. The debate on that regard was adjourned by the Deputy Senate president, Ovie Omo-Agege to Wednesday.
The section requires all political appointees to resign before participating in primaries, convention and other electoral activities.
The court had Friday last week, nullified Section 84(12) said that it violated the provisions of the constitution and ordered the Attorney General of the Federation to delete the section from the amended Electoral Act, 2022.
However, in a unanimous decision on Wednesday, the upper chamber of the National Assembly, NASS, resolved to appeal the judgement for the court to set it aside.
Leading the debate, Sekibo noted that the Electoral Act, 2022 enacted by the National Assembly followed due process of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“The Senate opines that Section 84 (12) of the 2022 Electoral Act exclusively refers to nomination conventions and congresses called for candidates selection and not participation in the general election’s which Sections 66(1)(f), 107(1)(f), 137(1)(g) and 182(1)(g) were referring to,” he said.
