Buhari wins as court voids section 84(12) of Electoral Act

The Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia has reportedly struck down Section 84(12) of the newly amended Electoral Act.

Justice Evelyn Anyadike held that the section conflicts with the constitution and, therefore, is unconstitutional and invalid.

Justice Anyadike  contends that Sections 66(1)(f), 107(1)(f), 137(1)(f) and 182(1)(f) of the 1999 Constitution already stipulates that appointees of government seeking to contest elections are to resign at least 30 days to the date of the election.

TheCornet reports that President Buhari recently wrote to the Senate urging it to delete the said section of the Electoral Act. The president had cited the contentious section was at variance  on  with relevant provision of the constitution regarding appointees of government.

Following the president’s request, the opposition PDP approached a court, barring the Senate from doing so. The Senate subsequently debated the request and voted to hold off on the bill pending the determination of the suit.

With the ruling, the national assembly might not need to debate whether to agree to the president’s demand.