JUST IN: Senate passes Electoral Act amendment bill

The Senate has passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill
for third reading.

The passage followed the adoption of the report by the joint
Senate and House of Representatives committee on the bill, which
was presented the Chairman, Senate Committee on Independent
National Electoral Commission, Senator Suleiman Nazif.

President Muhammadu, Buhari had withdrawn assent to the bill
three times, raising various constitutional and drafting
issues.

The committee had addressed the issues raised by the President
in a harmonised, fourth version of the bill.

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, who said passage of the
bill was “almost impossible,” expressed hope that the President
would assent to the bill when transmitted by the National
Assembly.

The House of Representatives has also scheduled third reading of
the bill for today.

Details later…