Bill on Voter’s Relocation Suffers Setback in House of Representatives

A bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act, 2022, which would make it mandatory for persons seeking to transfer their voter’s registration data to reside in their new constituency of choice for at least two months, suffered a setback in the House of Representatives on Thursday.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Abiodun Faleke of the All Progressive Congress (APC), was met with opposition from several lawmakers during the second reading at the plenary.

One of the main arguments against the bill was the potential disenfranchisement of eligible voters.

The bill suggested that voters would need to provide proof of residency through utility bills, which would be problematic for many tenants who do not pay utility bills in their name but in their landlord’s name.

This requirement would make it difficult for a significant portion of the population to exercise their right to vote.

Kelechi Nwogu, the lawmaker representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency in Rivers State, acknowledged that the bill had good intentions but emphasized that the aspect requiring proof of residency through utility bills should be removed to prevent disenfranchisement.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu ruled that the bill should be stepped down for further legislative action.

He advised the sponsor to make necessary adjustments to address the concerns raised by the opposition before presenting a fresh bill to the House.

This setback for the bill highlights the importance of ensuring that any proposed legislation aimed at improving the electoral process does not inadvertently disenfranchise eligible voters.

It also underscores the need for thorough consideration and debate of proposed amendments to the Electoral Act to ensure that they are fair, inclusive, and in the best interest of the Nigerian people.