The Anambra State House of Assembly has enacted an amendment to the State Electoral Law, designating it as Amendment No. 3, 2024.
This latest revision comes just 16 days prior to the local government elections scheduled for September 28, 2024.
The amendment specifically targets Section 110 of the Principal Law, introducing a new subsection (4) that clarifies the process for dissolving local government councils.
The provision stipulates that councils will be dissolved upon the expiration of two years from the date of their inauguration.
In addition to this key change, the amendment addresses various typographical errors within the legislative text.
During a plenary session, the amendments successfully progressed through the first, second, and third readings, in accordance with the House’s Standing Order 74, Clause 1, which permits such expedited readings with the approval of a two-thirds majority of members present.
The motion for the amendment was put forth by Mr Obi Nweke, the Chairman of the House Co
mmittee on Public Petitions and representative for Anambra East Constituency.
Nweke emphasised the necessity of these amendments to bridge potential gaps in the local government system, eliminate ambiguities in council tenures, and reduce the likelihood of protracted legal disputes.
As the Speaker, Mr. Somtochukwu Udeze, presented the bill, it garnered unanimous support from lawmakers through a voice vote.
He announced that the law would henceforth be cited as the Anambra State Electoral (Amendment No. 3) Law, coming into effect immediately on Thursday, September 12, 2024.
Udeze reiterated that while the tenure of local government officials was already outlined in the Principal Law, this amendment serves to comprehensively clarify the tenures of Chairmen, Deputy Chairmen, and Councillors.
The State House of Assembly passed the amendment during plenary in Awka on Thursday, thereby becoming the third time the State Electoral Law was amended in the past one month.
Source: Voice of Nigeria