By Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN – EDO State  House of Assembly on Monday rejected two out of the 11 clauses contained in the 2nd amended section of the 1999 constitution by the National Assembly. It however passed nine of the clauses.

Vanguard learnt that the  document was earlier sent to the Edo State legislature by the National Assembly  for its consideration.

The sections rejected by the House  are  clauses six and eight which empowers the judiciary to adjudicate on governorship, state and National Assembly elections in case of electoral malpractice, especially that of governorship to the Supreme Court level.

After a thorough section by section consideration of the document, the legislators condemned the rejected sections and contended that both clauses were not in conformity with justice.

It, however, approved those sections that have to deal with the presidential and governorship elections, schedules, appellate jurisdiction and others.

They argued that with the slow judicial system in Nigeria, taking such cases to the Supreme Court would amount to delay in the delivery of judgment in most election petitions which could be a kind of injustice to those that would not be in power.

The leader of the House, Mr. Phillip Shaibu, observed that the rejected sections were an attempt by the federal lawmakers “to refuse ordinary Nigerians the right to contest, if they are refused from the contest, the right to go to court and be given a prompt hearing.”

He therefore called on the members to reject the clauses.

In the same vein, Mr. Paul Ohonbamu , (Deputy Speaker) and Peter Aliu of Etsako East constituency described the inclusion of the clauses by the National Assembly as ridiculous and a slap on the face of true democrats.

Summing up deliberation of the amended constitution, Speaker, Bright Ehi Omokhodion said that what they have done was a thorough study of the sections of the amended constitution before passage.

He therefore directed that copies of their amended version be sent to the Clerk of the National Assembly for further deliberations.