On Wednesday, 85 Senators voted to amend 50 clauses in the 1999 Constitution and also barred members of the board of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from joining political parties.

There was no dissenting vote, as all the 85 Senators present (out of the total 109) voted in favour of the amendments.

But in the House of Representatives, open confrontation between Speaker Dimeji Bankole and Independence Ogunewe prevented consideration of the report of the National Assembly (NASS) Harmonisation Committee.

Senate President David Mark announced, nonetheless, that the NASS would soon meet with the Speakers of the 36 state Houses of Assembly on the changes in the Constitution.

Two-thirds (24) state Houses of Assembly need approve the amendments before they can become law.

"We are going across to discuss and talk to the Speakers and then forward these alterations to them. We are confident that we can have it back as quickly as possible," Mark said.

The harmonised version of the Constitution approved by the Senate reduced the age of the INEC Chairman from 50 years to "not less than 40 years of age and not less than 35 years of age in the case of the National Commissioners."

The NASS and the INEC were added to institutions that draw funds directly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).

The new Section 81 of the Constitution says: "The amount standing to the credit of the INEC, the NASS and Judiciary in the CRF shall be paid directly to the said bodies respectively.

"In the case of the Judiciary, such amount shall be paid to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for disbursement to the heads of the courts established for the Federation and the states under Section 6 of the Constitution."

Section 65 was also altered to raise the entry qualification for elected public officers from secondary school certificate "to diploma level."

Certificates acceptable for elections are Ordinary National Diploma (OND) or its equivalent, Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) or its equivalent, Higher School Certificate (HSC) or its equivalent, Advanced Diploma or its equivalent, and Higher National Diploma (HND) or its equivalent

Deleted was Section 66 which listed entry qualifications for candidates for election to the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Sections 221 to 227 were also deleted from the Constitution and transferred to the Electoral Act being amended by both Chambers of the NASS.

On the contentious issue of time-line for election petitions, the new provision is that litigations arising from elections must be filed "within 21 days after the declaration of result of the elections."

The Election Petition Tribunal "shall deliver its judgement in writing within 180 days from the date of filing of the petition. Appeal from the Tribunal or court shall be heard and disposed of within 60 days from the date of the delivery of judgement of the Tribunal."

Meanwhile, Bankole and Ogunewe, who have been at loggerheads in the House over personal issues, took their animosity to the open on Wednesday as they engaged in a war of words and nearly came to blows.

Ogunewe is a prominent figure in the group called Nigeria First Forum angling for the sack of Bankole.

Trouble ensued when he called Bankole a "mad man" at the entrance of the Chamber. Bankole turned to him, with an intent to hit him, but was restrained by Minority Leader Ali Ndume and Khadijat Abba-Ibrahim.

Ogunewe shouted at Bankole, "Why are you blackmailing me, what have I done to you? Why are you spoiling my name?"

Bankole had earlier vacated his seat to attend to the Aba State lobby delegation, leaving his Deputy, Usman Nafada, to preside over the business of the day.

However, Nafada refused to chair the Committee of the Whole where the report on the Constitution was to be considered, insisting that he lacks the locus standi to do so, having headed the House Constitution Review Committee (CRC).

Bankole did not make any comment on the allegation made against him by Ogunewe, and instead tried to appease Ogunewe, who shunned him.

He reminded Ogunewe that he had been to his house to sort out their differences, but the man riposted that Bankole is not welcomed in his house, saying he could only have gone to see his wife.

Bankole had earlier in the day met for two hours with Committee Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen and pleaded with them to allow peace to reign in the House.

He reportedly assured them that he would not reshuffle the Committees as being speculated.

The meeting also reportedly discussed quarterly allowance which the lawmakers want raised to N42 million.

On entering the Chamber after the altercation, Bankole refused to allow the House to discuss the report on the Constitution review listed on the order paper, but called for an executive session to discuss the rift between him and Ogunewe.

The executive session began at 4.05 p.m. and ended at 5.45 p.m. without a press briefing.

More on daily Independent of 2nd June.