Deletion of Section 84 (12): Court Temporarily Stops N’Assembly from Granting Buhari’s Request

Alex Enumah in Abuja
Justice Inyang Ekwo of 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 Electoral Act, 2022.
Justice Ekwo made the order while delivering ruling in an exparte 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 had signed the Electoral Act into law recently 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 the view of deleting the said section.
However, after listening to the counsel of the PDP, Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN), who argued the exparte application, the court held that the application has merit and consequently granted it as prayed.
Justice Ekwo held that all the defendants are hereby restrained from taking any further steps regarding the request of President Buhari 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.
Details later…