The Senate has quashed a bill for an act to amend the Electoral Act 2022 seeking to allow political parties to nominate and replace validly elected candidates in the event of resignation, death, or vacancy (of seats) of serving members in the National Assembly (NASS) and State Assemblies and for connected matters.
The sponsor of the bill, Senator Karimi Sunday, representing Kogi West Senatorial District, explained that the bill seeks to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to allow the political party that won an election to nominate and replace candidates into the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly whenever a vacancy occurs due to the death or resignation of the candidate during the pendency of his tenure in office.
He said the bill will primarily avoid wasting public resources on conducting a fresh election in the federal and state constituencies.
The lawmaker, however, failed to convince a significant number of his colleagues of the validity of this move.
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, thereafter gave him an opportunity to withdraw the bill or amend it, which he declined.
The bill was subsequently quashed in a voice vote.
