The House of Representatives has rescinded its approval of two controversial constitutional amendment bills, just a day after they passed second reading.

During Thursday’s plenary session, presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, the House reversed its decision on:

  • A bill seeking to strip immunity from the Vice President, governors, and deputy governors.
  • A bill proposing the abolition of the death penalty in Nigeria.

The reversal followed a motion moved by Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere, effectively retracting the House’s earlier support for the proposed amendments.

  1. Immunity Removal Bill
    Sponsored by Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers State), the bill sought to amend Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, removing immunity from civil and criminal prosecution for the Vice President, governors, and their deputies while in office. The proposal aimed to enhance accountability, ensuring that public officials could face legal scrutiny for any misconduct during their tenure.
  2. Death Penalty Abolition Bill
    Sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and six other lawmakers, this bill proposed amending Section 33(1) of the Constitution to eliminate provisions permitting capital punishment. If passed, the amendment would have effectively outlawed the death penalty in Nigeria.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu explained that the decision to withdraw the bills was to allow for a more robust debate among lawmakers before proceeding with any amendments.

While apologizing to the bill sponsors, Kalu emphasized the sensitivity and importance of the subject matter, noting that further deliberations were necessary to ensure a well-informed decision.

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