A bill seeking to introduce new provision to the electoral act to ensure voters intending to transfer their voting center to prove residency of the constituency where they intend to transfer their voting center to has been stepped down by the House of Representatives.
The Bill titled “A Bill for or an Act to Amend Section 13 of the Electoral Act, 2022 to introduce new Provisions to ensure that a person seeking Transfer of His or Her Voters’ Registration Data resides in the Constituency to which He or She applied and for Related Matters (HB.1133) sponsored by Hon. James Abiodun Faleke
The bill which was slated for second reading was later stepped down after a heated argument from members who said the bill if passed will disenfranchise eligible voters.
Speaking on the bill, Hon. Kelechi Nwogu (Rivers) said that the bill though well-intended will disenfranchise eligible voters.
“Asking eligible voters to show prove of residency through utility bill will disenfranchise eligible voters. Though the bill has good intention but I suggest the aspect where voters must prove their residence by their utility bill should be removed because most tenant don’t pay utility bill in their name but in landlords name.
The deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu also speaking on the bill said that it should be stepped down for further legislative action.
“This bill should be stepped down because asking voters who intend to change their voting center to prove their residency in such constituency is not encouraging.
“In the last election we saw the wide difference between registered voters and those who eventually voted, we are looking for ways to encourage voters not make them stay away from voting.
“Asking voters to get approval from community leaders even after proving that they live in that constituency is a way of disenfranchising an eligible voter. How do we define who a community leader is? What are the criteria to become a community leader? What if the community leader does not like your face? So I suggest this bill be stepped down.
The speaker at this point called on Hon Faleke to speak more on the bill, in his response he said “All Nigerian’s submit utility bill in the Bank and utility bill are paid in your name not landlords name. This bill has generated so much controversy so I will step it down for further legislative review thank you.
A bill seeking to introduce new provision to the electoral act to ensure voters intending to transfer their voting center to prove residency of the constituency where they intend to transfer their voting center to has been stepped down by the House of Representatives.
The Bill titled “A Bill for or an Act to Amend Section 13 of the Electoral Act, 2022 to introduce new Provisions to ensure that a person seeking Transfer of His or Her Voters’ Registration Data resides in the Constituency to which He or She applied and for Related Matters (HB.1133) sponsored by Hon. James Abiodun Faleke
The bill which was slated for second reading was later stepped down after a heated argument from members who said the bill if passed will disenfranchise eligible voters.
Speaking on the bill, Hon. Kelechi Nwogu (Rivers) said that the bill though well-intended will disenfranchise eligible voters.
“Asking eligible voters to show prove of residency through utility bill will disenfranchise eligible voters. Though the bill has good intention but I suggest the aspect where voters must prove their residence by their utility bill should be removed because most tenant don’t pay utility bill in their name but in landlords name.
The deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu also speaking on the bill said that it should be stepped down for further legislative action.
“This bill should be stepped down because asking voters who intend to change their voting center to prove their residency in such constituency is not encouraging.
“In the last election we saw the wide difference between registered voters and those who eventually voted, we are looking for ways to encourage voters not make them stay away from voting.
“Asking voters to get approval from community leaders even after proving that they live in that constituency is a way of disenfranchising an eligible voter. How do we define who a community leader is? What are the criteria to become a community leader? What if the community leader does not like your face? So I suggest this bill be stepped down.
The speaker at this point called on Hon Faleke to speak more on the bill, in his response he said “All Nigerian’s submit utility bill in the Bank and utility bill are paid in your name not landlords name. This bill has generated so much controversy so I will step it down for further legislative review thank you.
