Electoral act amendment: Presidency attacks National Assembly over planned letter to CJN

The Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, has reacted to the letter the National Assembly said it would write to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, on separation of powers involving the three arms of government.

Lauretta said the move was a proof that the lawmakers think they are higher than the other arms of government.

In a tweet on Friday, Lauretta, who posted Senate resolution on the matter, said, “This is clear proof that the Senate thinks it’s higher than the other two arms of government.

“It has held the Executive ransom for three years.

“Now, the Senate is not pleased that the judiciary is exercising its independence.

“The Nigerian citizens has the ultimate power, not the Senate.”

The Senate, yesterday resolved to write the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen, over a judgment by the Federal High Court preventing it from overriding President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto on the amended Electoral Act.

The Upper Legislative Chambers said the letter will contain its reservations about the judgment.

This followed a motion by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, that the judgment amounted to “an abuse of the principle of separation of powers.”