The House of Representatives has passed for a second reading a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to make the Court of Appeal the final authority on governorship, National Assembly, and State Assembly election disputes.
Sponsored by Rep. Nnamdi Ezechi, the bill aims to shorten the time spent resolving governorship election cases, which currently go up to the Supreme Court. If passed, the amendment will ensure the Appeal Court’s decisions on these cases are final, just as it is for National and State Assembly elections.
Ezechi argued that the move would reduce legal costs and allow elected governors to settle into office without prolonged legal battles. The bill is one of 39 constitutional amendments that passed second reading before the House adjourned for Sallah and Easter breaks.
Meanwhile, lawmakers also advanced a bill to establish an independent electoral body for local government elections and another seeking to mandate all elections—presidential, governorship, National Assembly, state assembly, and local government—to be held on the same day.
Despite repeated efforts to amend the constitution, many proposals have failed over the years, costing the National Assembly billions. Previous amendment attempts have been marked by controversies, including the failed third-term bid under former President Olusegun Obasanjo and multiple unsuccessful efforts to strip the president of the power to sign constitutional changes into law.
With this latest round of amendments, lawmakers hope to streamline the electoral process and address longstanding legal and governance issues.
