Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will today, make good its promise to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accelerate the process of the passage of its request for time extension in the electoral schedule.

The Upper chamber has also distanced itself from the alleged insertion of a clause for ‘right to first refusal,’ saying there was no such clause proposed in the second alteration.

By the passage of the second alteration, INEC will have more time to ‘play with’ as the commission will have to hold elections not earlier than sixty days before the May 29 hand-over date and not later than thirty days before the May 29 date which remains sacrosanct in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Speaking to Senate correspondents, after plenary, yesterday, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information, Senator Ayogu Eze said the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendment may likely lay its report today while the Senate is expected to also consider the report and vote on it at the same time.

 “I want to say that we meant everything we say. Hopefully, by this week or so, we will be done with the constitutional amendment and transmit it… “I want to put it on record that we are doing our own beat, whatever is required of us we are ready to do it to ensure that this process goes on smoothly

“All things being equal, we were hoping to lay it today (yesterday) and vote tomorrow (today). But our technical committee is doing its work and we are meeting this afternoon. It is very likely that we can lay and vote tomorrow. Very very likey that we can lay it and vote tomorrow and then wait for the house because, until they pass it in the House, we cannot transmit.”

Senator Ayogu Eze also elaborated on the Senate ‘s interface with Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega over the media report, which he said complained that NASS’s delay on the amendment may derail the 2011 elections.

He confirmed that the INEC Chairman’s denial of the allegation, and his follow up vote of confidence on the Senate has further ensured that NASS has really been doing all things possible to ensure a hitch free general election.

“I hope that you listen to Jega. He said we were doing everything possible and that the National Assembly has not constituted any distraction or any delay in the process of amending the constitution of the Electoral Act and has provided support to INEC to ensure that we have  free, fair and credible elections

“I want to put it on record that we are doing our own beat, whatever is required of us, we are ready to do it to ensure that this process goes on smoothly.

I was also very happy that one of the most vocal critics of the process, Mr. Femi Falana was here and he confirmed that the civil society group is satisfied with the work we are doing to ensure that the process of holding free, fair and credible elections is on course”

On the issue of the clause right of first refusal, Senator Eze said the senate had never contemplated that and the committee on the constitution amendment has not come across such in the proposals for alteration in the constitution.

 “I also know that the media has been awash with insinuation that in the National Assembly we have inserted the clause of right of first refusal.

I want to state categorically that that is not true. Nigerians are free to bring in whatever views they feel, but it will be the views of Nigerians that will prevail.

This National Assembly is very patriotic and we will not make personal and selfish laws that will serve the interest of the National Assembly alone as is being insinuated outside. We are not making any laws for ourselves.

“I am not aware that that clause is being considered by any of the chambers or any of the committees or sub-committees dealing with the process of amending the constitution of the Electoral Act. I want to clarify that before Nigerians.

The Senate spokesman also denied the insinuation that the lawmakers are only rejecting it because it is meant to favour the leadership of the National Assembly and not all members.

At a public hearing held at the National Assembly on the clauses for the second alteration in the Electoral Act, Monday, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC said it was comfortable with the ongoing second alteration of the constitution to extend the time-line for next year’s general elections in the country.

Speaking at the opening of a one day public hearing on the constitution second Alteration Bill, 2010 at the National Assembly, Abuja, Professor Jega said they had been privileged to have obtained and read a copy of the draft bill. According to him, the time they had asked for had been adequately provided for.

The Senate President, David Mark, noted that the National Assembly had no ulterior motive in the Constitutional Amendment as is being insinuated by the public.

Nneka Amaechi- Nnadi, Abuja