Constitution review: Voting exercise suffers setback in Reps

•Speaker conducts mock voting, reschedules for today

VOTING process on the ongoing alteration to the 1999 Constitution as amended in the House of Representatives suffered a setback on Wednesday, as absence of some members and operationality of the electronic voting system marred the exercise.

The process was marred by poor knowledge of members to command the voting machine.

Consequently, the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, who  onducted the mock exercise to ascertain the workability of the electronic voting, directed that the voting proper would commence today.

Earlier, before the trial of the mock exercise, there was an executive session which lasted about one and a half hours. Though discussion at the closed doors session was sketchy as of press time, it might not be unconnected with the constitution review exercise and virement request from Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

There was, however, a mild drama before the executive session was called by the Speaker, as some of the members refused to stand up during the procession as against the usual practice.

The mock voting exercise also produced its own drama as some members who were present in process were recorded by the machine as not present.

The attendance of those present in the chamber for the exercise kept changing every step.