The Senate has rejected a proposed amendment to the Electoral Act, 2022, which aimed to allow political parties to nominate replacements for members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly in the event of resignation, death, or vacancy, instead of conducting a fresh general election.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Karimi Sunday of Kogi-West Senatorial District, failed to progress beyond the second reading. Sen. Sunday argued that the party, not the candidate, owned the votes, suggesting that the replacement could be nominated by the party to save costs.
However, concerns about potential conflicts with existing laws and procedural errors led to the majority rejecting the bill.
