By Haruna Salami
The Senate Wednesday fell short of the expectations of many Nigerians, especially stakeholders in the electoral process when it could not carry out its avowed determination to override President Buhari’s veto of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021.
The upper chamber could not complete its legislative duties listed on the Order Paper on Tuesday, chief among which was its refusal to pass the 2022 budget and proceed on Christmas recess like the House of Representatives counterpart over Buhari’s action.
Tension was palpable on Wednesday at the Senate, which made it go straight into a closed session after the opening prayer.
However, on resumption from the closed session, the Senate President announced that “the Senate discussed the workings of the Senate in particular and the National Assembly in general.
He said the Senate also in a close session “discussed the way forward on how the Senate could respond to Mr. President on electoral bill amendment.
“The Senate consequently resolved to consult with the House of Representatives in January when both Senate and House of Representatives would be in session.
“Presently, the House of Representatives has gone on recess and we all know the provision is for the Senate and the house of representatives to jointly take the appropriate action.
“The Senate also resolved to consult with constituents during the recess. The Senate believes that our constituents have a role to play as the major stakeholders in the laws that we make in the national assembly”, Lawan concluded.
It will be recalled that senators were collecting signatures on Tuesday preparatory to overriding presidential veto of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2021.
However, when the two Chambers resume in January, it is uncertain whether the fire will not been put out.
Meanwhile, it is believed the National Assembly has 30 days within which to override the president, beginning from Tuesday (yesterday) when the president conveyed his withholding of assent to the lawmakers.
