Brave Dickson
Civil Society Organizations in Rivers State have faulted the recent court ruling stopping the National Assembly from tampering with the newly amended Electoral Act.
The President, Muhammadu Buhari had written to the national lawmakers asking them to alter section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act.
Not happy with the president’s intention, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party approached the court to prevent the presidency, National Assembly and INEC from adjusting the Electoral Act.
The federal high court presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo in Abuja consequently ordered the defendants in the suit not to tamper with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
In a chat with our correspondent, the state Chairman of the Civil Society Organizations, Ene-faa Georgewill said it was wrong for the court to stop the lawmakers from tampering with the Electoral Act.
He said, “it is the responsibility of the lawmakers to make or amend laws at any time.
“The court ought not to have stopped the lawmakers from adjusting the Electoral Act.”
Georgewill however cautioned the lawmakers not to proceed on adjusting the Electoral Act until they vacate the restraining order through the appellate court.
Meanwhile, the national assembly had begun the process of adjusting the provision of the Electoral Act inline with the request of the president.
The lawmakers maintained that there is the separation of powers among the three arms of government, adding that it is within their constitutional rights to tamper with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
