Election of the National Assembly and Senate Speakers is provided for in the Standing Orders, guiding how business is conducted in the August House.
The process starts immediately the President gazettes the first sitting of the two Houses following a general election.
Once the President states the place and date for the first sitting of a new assembly as provided for in Article 126(2) of the Constitution, the Clerk publishes a gazette notice inviting applications.
Interested persons are thereafter required to submit their nomination papers for election to the office of the Speaker at least 48 hours before the sitting day.
“The names of candidates for election to the office of Speaker shall be entered upon nomination papers obtained from the Clerk and handed back to the Clerk, at least 48 hours before the time appointed at which the House is to meet to elect a Speaker,” the National Assembly Standing Order reads.
A candidate is required to obtain the names and signatures of 20 members who support his bid, the same lot declaring that the candidate is qualified to be elected as an MP and is willing to serve as Speaker of the National Assembly.
Upon the close of the nomination period, the Clerk publicises and makes available to all members, a list showing all qualified candidates, and provides MPs with copies of the curriculum vitae of the qualified candidates.
At least two hours before the sitting of the assembly, the clerk prepares ballot papers upon bearing the names of all candidates validly nominated.
The election is done by secret ballot.
Before voting begins, the clerk is required to empty the ballot box, display it to the House in the presence of the members, and lock the box which is to be kept in the full view of the House until the conclusion of the ballot.
The Senate applies the same procedure with minimal changes to fit its practices.
Generally, a person is considered elected speaker if he or she is supported in a ballot by the votes of two-thirds of all members.
Standing Orders, however, provide that if no candidate is supported by the votes of two-thirds of all members, the frontrunners alone shall stand for election.
