The House of Representatives on Monday rejected several constitution amendment bills, including proposals to strip the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its power to register and regulate political parties, and to introduce rotational presidency across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.


The bill seeking to transfer INEC's powers to the Office of the Registrar-General of Political Parties was co-sponsored by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Francis Waive. It was presented for second reading but failed to pass following a voice vote presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.


Also rejected was a separate bill sponsored by Kalu, which sought to entrench the principle of rotating the offices of the president and vice president among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones: North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-East, South-South, and South-West.


Additional bills that failed to scale through include:


A bill sponsored by Julius Ihonvbere to establish the Offices of State Auditors-General for Local Governments and FCT Area Councils, aimed at strengthening fiscal oversight and grassroots accountability.


Another bill by Ihonvbere proposing to increase the number of Federal High Court judges to no fewer than 100 and expand the court's jurisdiction to include admiralty matters, shipping, navigation on the River Niger and Benue, and carriage by sea.


A proposal to empower the National Judicial Council (NJC) in collaboration with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to determine the salaries and allowances of judicial officers and staff, also sponsored by Ihonvbere.


A bill by Francis Waive seeking the creation of Ughelli East Local Government Area in Delta State.


Although a few lawmakers supported the bills, the majority voted against them when the question was put forward.


In response to the sweeping rejection, the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business appealed to the Deputy Speaker to allow the bills to be reconsidered individually. However, Deputy Minority Leader Ali Jesse raised a point of order under Order 9, Rule 6, which requires any motion to rescind a vote to be presented as a substantive motion on notice.


Deputy Speaker Kalu agreed and directed that the motion be listed for re-presentation on the order paper during the next legislative sitting.