Court restrains NASS from amending new electoral act
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday temporarily restrained the National Assembly from deleting or taking any further steps regarding Section 84 (12) of the newly-amended Electoral Act, 2022.
Justice Inyang Ekwo made the order while delivering ruling in an ex parte application brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the legality or otherwise of the National Assembly to amend a bill already signed into law by the president.
President Muhammadu Buhari recently signed the Electoral Act into law with a caveat that section 84 (12) be deleted in order to deepen democracy in the country.
The section particularly bars appointed political office holders from voting or be voted for during conventions and congresses of political parties.
It is believed that the National Assembly will this week look into the demand of the president with a view to deleting the section.
However, after listening to counsel to the PDP, Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN), who argued the ex parte application, the court held that the application has merit and consequently granted the prayer.
Justice Ekwo held that all the defendants are restrained from taking any further steps regarding the request of the President for the deletion of Section 84 (12), pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The judge further ordered the applicants to serve the order as well as the process on all the defendants and adjourned till March 21 for hearing of the substantive suit.
