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The Senate on
Thursday received the report of its ad hoc committee on constitution
review on the second amendment to the constitution.

The report is based on the public hearing organised by the Senate on the bill three days earlier.

The bill was read
for the first time the week before and according to the deputy Senate
president, Ike Ekweremadu, the bill is in consonance with the new dates
demanded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for
adjustment to the election time frame.

The bill sent from
the president proposed that election be held not earlier than 90 days
and not later than 30 days before the end of tenure of the running
office, as against the prevailing constitutional provisions of not
earlier than 150 days and not later than 120 days.

Although the
contents of the report are yet to be made known, indications have
emerged that the Senate may have proposed a wider time line.

“We are hoping that
if we give them not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days,
it will give them the scope of time they need,” Ayogu Eze, the Senate
spokesman told reporters the previous day.

“They (INEC) do not
even need to change the law after this particular year when they are
through in this next election. If they have time, they can start early
because they now have enough time to start and fix election. So, we
have given them enough scope within 150 days and 30 days. And I want to
assure Nigerians that that will be delivered timely,” Mr. Eze added.

The bill comprises
of 10 clauses dealing with time frame for elections and matters
surrounding which court will be the final court of hearing for election
petitions concerning governorship elections.

With the current
development, voting on the bill is expected to hold on next Tuesday and
thereafter, an accelerated hearing in the House of Representatives and
the state Houses of Assembly is expected to follow.

“Nigerians should
not be very anxious about whether we will meet the time frame to make
all the necessary amendment both in the Constitution and the electoral
act.

“We have enough
time … but I believe it will not go beyond Tuesday this time around,
and that is really the crucial thing that INEC needs to give them that
breath of time,” Mr. Eze said.