The Senate today dealt a blow to efforts towards the attainment of the two thirds gender rule in the elective posts, paving way for dissolution of parliament by the courts.
Already there is a pending petition at the courts filed by the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness and the National Women’s Steering Committee,in 2015, seeking that the 11nth parliament be dissolved for failing to meet the constitutional two thirds gender rule.
Even after several deferments, senators failed to raise the numbers required (45) to have the Bill sail through second reading. It was the second time the House was trying to salvage the Bill after the Speaker exercised his discretion to allow the senator to vote for it after it suffered a similar fate last year.
It was disappointing that apart from the male Mps who failed to turn up to vote only ten out of the 18 nominated female senators were present to vote.
Only 23 senators were in the House even as the division bell was rung to call the attention of senators who were outside the House.
Speaker Ekwee Ethuro rejected calls by several senator present to have the voting on the Bill adjourned again to allow more time to whip numbers.
