Bill on voter’s relocation suffers setback in House of Reps

The House of Representatives, on Thursday, stepped down 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.

The proposed legislation was sponsored by the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, Abiodun Faleke of the All Progressive Congress, APC.

The planned amendment was titled, ‘A Bill for or an Act to Amend Section 13 of the Electoral Act, 2022 to introduce new provisions to ensure that a person seeking transfer of his or her voter’s registration data resides in the constituency to which he or she applied’.

The bill was stepped down during the second reading at plenary on Thursday, after it was opposed by several lawmakers.

One of the lawmakers who opposed the bill, Kelechi Nwogu, representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency, Rivers State, noted that it will disenfranchise voters if passed into law.

“Though well-intended, the amendment will disenfranchise eligible eligible voters, if passed into law.

“Asking eligible voters to show proof of residency through utility bills will disenfranchise eligible voters.

“Though the bill has good intentions, I suggest the aspect where voters must prove their residence by their utility bill should be removed because most tenants don’t pay utility bills in their name but landlord’s name,” he said.

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

He asked the sponsor to make necessary adjustments before presenting a fresh bill to the House.