Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Bakare Majeed
Published on 2024-02-28 13:54:44
The House of Representatives recently rejected a bill that proposed to change the rules for presidential and governorship candidates to be declared winners. The bill, introduced by Awaji-inombek Abiante from Rivers State, aimed to amend the 1999 constitution by requiring candidates to secure more than 50% of the total votes cast.
Abiante’s proposal targeted sections 134 and 179 of the constitution, which outline the conditions for electing presidents and governors, respectively. Currently, a presidential candidate needs the highest number of votes and at least one-quarter of the votes in two-thirds of the states to win, as per section 134. Similarly, a governorship candidate must secure the highest number of votes and one-quarter of the votes in two-thirds of local government areas in the state.
The bill sought to replace the simple majority rule with a majority, meaning the winner has to secure over 50% of the total votes cast when there are more than two candidates. This change was proposed to prevent scenarios like the last presidential election where the winning candidate, Bola Tinubu from the All Progressives Congress (APC), won without a majority of the total votes cast.
During the election, Tinubu received about 37% of the total votes, meeting the constitutional requirements. However, the bill faced strong opposition in the House of Representatives, and the majority voted against it. Despite the rejection, passing the bill would have required a lengthy process, including Senate approval and support from state Houses of Assembly.
The rejection of the bill highlights the challenges of amending the constitution and changing the electoral process. While the proposal aimed to ensure that candidates have broader support from the electorate, the existing rules remain in place for now. The decision of the House of Representatives reflects the complexity of electoral reforms and the differing perspectives on how best to improve the electoral system.
Moving forward, discussions on electoral reforms and constitutional amendments are likely to continue as Nigeria navigates its democratic processes. The rejection of this bill is just one chapter in the ongoing debate over electoral laws and regulations. As the country strives to strengthen its democratic institutions, finding the right balance between majority rule and ensuring widespread support for elected officials will remain a crucial issue for policymakers and lawmakers.
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