Constitution review: The intrigues in the Senate

By JOSEPH ERUNKE
REVIEW. Some landmark changes were adopted and some other very
critical proposals were dropped. The ball is now in the court of the
House of Representatives and the 36 State Houses of Assembly.
A RECORD101 out of the 109 senators assembled last Tuesday to take a
decision on critical issues slated for amendment in the on-going
constitution amendment exercise. It was a day the Senate went through
clause-by-clause voting on the proposed amendments.
Before the voting exercise, Senate President David Mark enjoined
senators to cast their votes according to their conscience as
according to him, the outcome of the day's exercisewould impact
considerably on the country.
"We are on the threshold of history. I want all of you to vote
according to your conscience because how you votetoday would be
reflected.
Clause-by -clause consideration would be taken. Because of the
seriousness of this, we will not resume another debate unless there is
a correction to be made. We have gone pass that stage now. A minimum
of 73 votes are required for any of the clauses to be passed into
law," he said.
Mark, who had informed his colleaguesthat the exercise would be
carried out electronically, turned out as their tutor, given that it
was not only the first time electronic voting would be adopted in the
Seventh Senate but due largely to the fact that majority of the
senators were serving their first term in the legislature. And all the
votes done in the chamber were through voice votes which they are
either expected to shout 'Aye' or 'Nay,'signifying yes or no to any
issue they are considering.
Stages of the exercise
Although, it wasn't easy for the lawmakers in the first three votes
made as they were seen making mistakes, but with Mark's continued
intervention, they got it right from the fourth voting stage. So, it
became fun for them as they progressed to other stages of the
exercise.
Out of the 101 senators who were present to vote on the 31 clauses.