Representative Mansur Manu Soro from Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency wants to change the Nigerian Constitution. He believes the Senate President and House Speaker have way more power than they should when it comes to suspending lawmakers. After Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from Kogi Central got suspended, Manu Soro pointed out a problem he saw with the 1999 Constitution.
The Constitution clearly tells us how to impeach a President or Governor but says nothing about suspending elected lawmakers. Manu Soro asks if Senate or House rules should be able to remove someone from an office the Constitution created. He mentioned that when Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi from Bauchi Central faced suspension, the people lost their voice in government. This pushed him to write a bill that would create fair rules for suspensions.
His proposed changes aim to protect all 109 senatorial districts and 360 federal constituencies from random suspensions. The amendment also requires political party leaders to retire when they run for office, making party politics more fair for everyone involved. Manu Soro also thinks the Senate Committee on Ethics and Code of Conduct needs new leadership rules. He worries about committee heads serving only because presiding officers want them there.
Manu Soro believes democracy works best when legislative bodies remain strong, and citizens maintain their voices through elected representatives. His push for these changes comes from seeing how suspensions directly impact representation across Nigeria. The amendment tackles both the suspension process and party leadership issues that affect fair elections. These changes would create clearer guidelines about who can suspend elected officials and under what circumstances.
The Constitution clearly tells us how to impeach a President or Governor but says nothing about suspending elected lawmakers. Manu Soro asks if Senate or House rules should be able to remove someone from an office the Constitution created. He mentioned that when Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi from Bauchi Central faced suspension, the people lost their voice in government. This pushed him to write a bill that would create fair rules for suspensions.
His proposed changes aim to protect all 109 senatorial districts and 360 federal constituencies from random suspensions. The amendment also requires political party leaders to retire when they run for office, making party politics more fair for everyone involved. Manu Soro also thinks the Senate Committee on Ethics and Code of Conduct needs new leadership rules. He worries about committee heads serving only because presiding officers want them there.
Manu Soro believes democracy works best when legislative bodies remain strong, and citizens maintain their voices through elected representatives. His push for these changes comes from seeing how suspensions directly impact representation across Nigeria. The amendment tackles both the suspension process and party leadership issues that affect fair elections. These changes would create clearer guidelines about who can suspend elected officials and under what circumstances.
