Politics
New Bill Proposed: House Of Reps Moves To Resolve Electoral Disputes Before Swearing-In
The House of Representatives is considering a constitutional amendment aimed at resolving all appeals from election petition tribunals before the swearing-in of elected officials, including the President, Vice President, governors, and lawmakers.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The proposed bill, sponsored by Mansur Soro, who represents the Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency in Bauchi State, seeks to amend Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution.
If passed, the bill would mandate appellate courts to conclude electoral disputes before power is officially handed over.
Specifically, the bill introduces a new subsection 285(i), stating: “All appeals arising from presidential, governorship, national, and state Assemblies election petition tribunals shall be resolved by appellate courts prior to the swearing-in of candidates declared winners by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”
Additionally, it proposes subsection 285(ii), which requires INEC to revise its guidelines and election timelines to ensure that electoral litigation is concluded before swearing-in ceremonies.
Reducing Distractions to Governance
Speaking to Punch, Soro emphasized the importance of minimizing the disruptions caused by unresolved electoral cases, which often hinder governance.
He explained, “Allowing swearing-in to proceed before finalizing litigations creates unnecessary distractions that affect governance and drain public resources. Imagine the billions of naira governors spend on handling cases at appeal and apex courts—funds that come from the public treasury. This should not be allowed to continue.”
The PDP lawmaker further stressed that resolving electoral disputes before May 29, the traditional handover date, would ensure stability and a smooth transition of power.
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