Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The two chambers of the National Assembly have harmonised their positions and inserted the "consensus" mode of nominating candidates by political parties for elections in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2010. The House suspended its rules and dissolved into the committee of the whole, presided over by the Chairman and Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, to unanimously adopt and harmonise the proposed law. The new version of the bill will be transmitted to the President in seven days. The Senate President has warned political parties against flouting provisions of the law, threatening that the erring ones stand the chance of not participating in the elections. Senate Leader Abdullahi Yahaya Abubakar sponsored a motion to rescind Clause 84 of the Electoral Act No.6 2010(Amendment) Bill, 2022 and committal to the committee of the whole. The Senate passed the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Egbe, Kogi State Establishment Bill for second reading. Senator Smart Adeyemi argued for the citing of the university in Egbe on the availability of the "massive medical facility" at the 70-year-old Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA Hospital). ECWA Hospital was established in 1951 by the Canada-based Sudan Interior Mission (SIM)

The National Assembly resumes plenary today after the Yuletide break, and governors elected on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have called on legislators not to sustain President Muhammadu Buhari's veto of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021. They re-echoed the position of the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, that the early conclusion of the amendment is vital for credible elections. They also lamented the continued state of insecurity in the country, persistent and ceaseless flow of Nigerians' blood on a daily basis, and the near collapse of security situation. They urged Mr President to reconsider his position and consider decentralisation and restructuring of the security architecture as the most viable solution, together with proper arming, funding and training requirements for security agencies. The governors and CSOs have called on the legislature and President Buhari to conclude the process of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill by January 31, first by retransmitting the bill to the President for assent by Friday, January 21, and then by assenting to the bill within one week. The CSOs warned that further delay on the conclusion of the amendment process was inimical to the preparations for Ekiti and Osun elections.