A Warri based constitutional lawyer ,Dr Akpo Mudiaga Odje has commended the lawmaker representing Ughelli North,Ughelli South and Udu federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon Francis Waive for sponsoring a Bill to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to conduct all elections into the offices of the President, National Assembly, Governors and State House of Assembly on same day .
Constitutional lawyer
Dr Odje in a commendation letter to the federal lawmaker while reacting to reports published by Punch and the nation newspapers on the bill by Hon Francis waive noted the Bill Will Stop the Bandwagon Effect Associated with Staggered Elections.
Dr Odje who described the bill as laudable noting that if all elections are held same day it will be cost and time efficient.
While noting that the Bill is unconstitutional ,Dr Akpo Mudiaga Odje noted that the 1999 constitution as amended has already staggered elections in Nigeria by granting power to INEC in that regard .
Dr Odje stated that according to section 76 of the constitution “elections to each house of National Assembly shall be held on a date to be appointed by INEC”.
He added that the constitution being the most superior law and having directed for Staggered elections in Nigeria except local government elections,any bill as the one commendably proposed by hon Francis waive which seek to direct INEC to conduct all elections in one day is Comprehensively NULL And VOID .
WAY FORWARD FOR THIS BILL AND CONDUCT OF ALL ELECTIONS ON SAME DAY
Dr Akpo Mudiaga Odje suggested that Hon Francis Waive should either stepdown the bill from authorizing INEC to conduct all elections on same day or simply withdraw the bill.
He added that the federal lawmaker should proposed a bill for constitutional amendment to include the power of INEC to conduct all elections in Nigeria on same day and delete the present contrary sections that authorizes INEC to staggered elections in Nigeria.
The constitutional lawyer stated that if implemented the bandwagon effect caused by the staggered elections in Nigeria will be expunged as Nigerians yearn for credible elections.
Dr Odje was a pioneer staff member of the National Assembly maiden Joint Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution.
