Popular human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, has tackled the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, for hinting that the Federal Government may sue the National Assembly over the amendment of some parts of the electoral bill, which was rejected.
Malami had said the National Assembly rejected the proposal of President Muhammadu Buhari to amend section 84(12) of the 1999 constitution which prevents political office holders from contesting unless they resign from their existing position.
The Senate, however, had voted against the amendment.
But, Malami, while addressing journalists in Abuja, said: “One of the options is to request or demand the National Assembly to consider; the other option, if the government feels strongly about it, it may consider the judicial option which is equally available and open to all.”
Reacting, Adeyanju stressed that the Executive arm of government cannot force the legislature on what to legislate about.
In a Facebook post, the activist turn lawyer explained that the separation of powers and some cases decided by the Supreme Court makes it impossible for the Executive to arm-twist the legislature.
He wrote: “It is trite law that the Executive cannot force the legislature on what to or not legislate on as our constitution enjoins separation of powers. There are a plethora of cases decided by the Supreme Court on this. An AGF and a qualified SAN should know this.”
