Reps want CJN empowered to pick election petition tribunal chairmen

The house of representatives on Wednesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to make the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) responsible for appointing chairman and members of election tribunals of the national and states houses of assembly in the country.

The bill, sponsored by Karimi Sunday and James Faleke, sought to alter Section 1 (3) of the sixth schedule of the 1999 constitution as amended.

Faleke told the house that the amendment was necessary to ensure checks and balances.

“The bill seeks to ensure that we have check and balances,” he said.

“The president of the court of appeal is in charge of setting up the election tribunals and at the same time constitutes appeal panels; this will ensure checks and balances.”

The house adopted the bill for second reading after it was put to a voice vote by Yakubu Dogara, the speaker.

Dogara further referred the bill to the special ad hoc committee reviewing the 1999 constitution.