-
Constitutional amendment aims to conclude all election petitions before officials are sworn in.
-
Supreme Court to handle presidential petitions; Court of Appeal to handle governorship disputes.
-
Tribunals to deliver judgments in 60 days; appeals concluded within 60 days.
The Joint National Assembly Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has proposed amendments to ensure all election petitions are resolved before elected officials assume office.
Under the proposal, election tribunals must deliver judgments within 60 days, with appeals concluded within an additional 60 days.
READ ALSO: Alteration claims: National Assembly orders re-gazetting of tax laws
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
For presidential election disputes, the Supreme Court would have original jurisdiction, while governorship petitions would terminate at the Court of Appeal.
Presidential election cases would require at least five Justices, with rulings delivered within 60 days of filing.
The committee also recommends changes to Section 286 to streamline pre-election and post-election dispute timelines, reducing tribunal judgment periods from 180 to 60 days and setting 30–60 day limits for appeals.
On independent candidates, the proposal allows individuals to contest elections without party affiliation if they secure endorsements from at least 20% of registered voters in each ward. Endorsements are verified by INEC, with women receiving a 50% administrative fee waiver.
Additional amendments include placing Armed Forces funding on first-line charge, alongside INEC, the National Assembly, and the Judiciary, and requiring Presidents and governors to submit annual budgets 60 days before the fiscal year-end.
