Reps Reject Bill To Alter Conditions For Winning Presidential, Guber Elections

The House of Representatives has dismissed a bill attempting to alter the criteria that must be fulfilled before candidates can be declared winners in presidential and governorship elections.

The bill, sponsored by Awaji Abiante, sought to make it mandatory for presidential and governorship candidates to secure more than half of votes before being declared winners.

The bill, if it had passed, would prevent what happened in the 2023 presidential election, when President Bola Tinubu’s votes was less than the combined votes secured by Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and others.

The bill sought to amend Section 134 of the 1999 constitution which provides conditions for winning presidential election, and Section 179, which sets the criteria for winning governorship polls.

However, the House on Wednesday rejected the bill even before the sponsor could lead the debate.

Immediately the bill was announced, Ahmed Jaha, a lawmaker from Borno State, opposed it.

When the speaker, Tajudeen Abbas put the bill to votes, it was rejected.