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Members of Jude’s
community are not happy with Senator Bala and Honourable Tiwa, they believe
that the politicians who rode to success at the last elections on the backs of
the people’s vote have abandoned the agenda of the constituency and have begun
to seek only personal gratification to the detriment of the people. Now the
community will like to recall the Senator and Honourable.
community are not happy with Senator Bala and Honourable Tiwa, they believe
that the politicians who rode to success at the last elections on the backs of
the people’s vote have abandoned the agenda of the constituency and have begun
to seek only personal gratification to the detriment of the people. Now the
community will like to recall the Senator and Honourable.
Ever wondered what you can
do if you are not satisfied with the conduct of your constituency’s
representative in the National Assembly? I mean your Senator or Honourable? What
if you elected him or her to the noble position but has now decided to work
contrary to the interest of his or her constituency, what do you do? Do you have to
wait till the next elections before you can sack or recall your representative,
the answer is no.
do if you are not satisfied with the conduct of your constituency’s
representative in the National Assembly? I mean your Senator or Honourable? What
if you elected him or her to the noble position but has now decided to work
contrary to the interest of his or her constituency, what do you do? Do you have to
wait till the next elections before you can sack or recall your representative,
the answer is no.
The Constitution in
Section 69 contains the provisions on how you can recall your Senator or member
of the House of Representatives. It provides that –
Section 69 contains the provisions on how you can recall your Senator or member
of the House of Representatives. It provides that –
69. A member of the Senate or of the House Representatives
may be recalled as such a member if –
may be recalled as such a member if –
(a) there is presented
to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission a petition in
that behalf signed by more than one-half of the persons registered to vote in
that member’s constituency alleging their loss of confidence in that member;
and
to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission a petition in
that behalf signed by more than one-half of the persons registered to vote in
that member’s constituency alleging their loss of confidence in that member;
and
(b) the petition is
thereafter, in a referendum conducted by the Independent National Electoral
Commission within ninety days of the date of receipt of the petition, approved
by a simple majority of the votes of the persons registered to vote in that
member’s constituency.
thereafter, in a referendum conducted by the Independent National Electoral
Commission within ninety days of the date of receipt of the petition, approved
by a simple majority of the votes of the persons registered to vote in that
member’s constituency.
Though the above provision
of the law is contained in the constitution, it has never been used as no
senator or house of representatives member has ever been recalled by his constituency
but maybe there will be a first very soon. The procedure seems cumbersome as it
may be difficult to get the required signatures to recall a member of the
National Assembly especially as many politicians have been used to use violence
and bribery to achieve their aims.
of the law is contained in the constitution, it has never been used as no
senator or house of representatives member has ever been recalled by his constituency
but maybe there will be a first very soon. The procedure seems cumbersome as it
may be difficult to get the required signatures to recall a member of the
National Assembly especially as many politicians have been used to use violence
and bribery to achieve their aims.
Adedunmade Onibokun
@adedunmade