Senate, Reps agree on adjusted sequence of elections

The senate and House of Representatives committees on electoral matters have agreed on the amended sequence of elections.
This will allow the 2019 general election to begin first with national assembly, followed by governorship and state houses of assembly elections with the presidential elections coming last.
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TVC News National Assembly Correspondent Sumner Sambo reports that the amendment of the electoral act had earlier been concluded by the Senate in 2017 hence senators had to await resolutions by their counterparts in the lower chamber on the same issue.

When the House of Representatives concluded its amendment two weeks ago, it came with the reordering of the sequence of election where they proposed that subsequent elections beginning from 2019 should start with mass-based elections from the National Assembly to State Houses of Assembly and governorship elections before terminating with the presidential election.

This harmonization committee of the Senate and House of Representatives adopted the version of the lower chamber.

But the federal lawmakers denied accusations that the amendment is meant to sabotage INEC or targeted at likely presidential candidates such as President Muhammadu Buhari, if he decides to contest.

Other non-contentious amendments of the electoral act are also set for harmonization before being sent to both Chambers for passage and referral to the Presidency for assent.