A major constitutional amendment is gaining momentum in the House of Representatives, as lawmakers move to strip the Supreme Court of jurisdiction over governorship election disputes.
A new bill proposes making the Court of Appeal the final authority on governorship election petitions, eliminating the current system where cases progress from tribunals to the Court of Appeal and ultimately to the Supreme Court.
Sponsored by Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi, the bill was passed for a second reading without debate after the House suspended its rules. If approved, it will amend Section 246(3) of the 1999 Constitution, extending the Court of Appeal’s final jurisdiction beyond legislative elections to also include governorship disputes.
Supporters argue that this move will ease the burden on the Supreme Court and accelerate legal proceedings, preventing prolonged election disputes that disrupt governance. However, critics warn that removing Supreme Court oversight could compromise the quality of final rulings and increase the risk of judicial errors.
The bill now heads to the next legislative stage, where it will face further scrutiny before potential adoption into law.
