Two Party System: House Moves Voting To Tuesday

ABUJA, May 13, (THEWILL) - The House of Representatives on today deferred voting on the controversial proposal for the adoption of two party system in place of the multi party system currently being used in the country.

Following heated division on the matter on Wednesday, Speaker Dimeji Bankole had deferred consideration and actual voting to today (Thursday).

However after the debates on the floor yesterday, voting was stalled following a malfunctioning of the electronic voting device prompting the Speaker to shelve voting till next Tuesday.

Lawmakers continued on their divided opinion on the matter with some of them clamouring for two party system while others pushed for a five party system.

Debates on the most appropriate party system for the country was sparked off by a proposal by Minority Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume who on Wednesday suggested the insertion of a new clause to provide for a two party system for election in the country.

Ndume argued that the adoption of a two party system is the only way to ensure sanity in the polity and remove unnecessary proliferation of parties in the country.

However those against the proposal argue that it is against the principle of freedom of association as enshrined in section 40 of the Constitution.

Speaker Bankole however charged members to use the period between Thursday and next Tuesday to consult with their constituents ahead of voting.