The Religious Preaching Regulation law, 1984 before the Kaduna State House of Assembly seeking substitution was on Friday passed into law

The passage of the bill came three years after the bill faced serious criticism from different religious bodies and individuals.

The bill, which purpose is to regulate religious preaching in Kaduna State with a view of promoting religious harmony and peaceful co-existence amongst the residents of the state was brought to the House since 2016.

Presiding over the plenary, the Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi Shagali while reading the bill close by close said a state inter-faith Regulatory council has been established with a chairman to be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Secretary to the state.

Also, two members representing the Christian and Muslim faith, respectively, to be appointed by the Governor, among others.

According to the Speaker, the bill further has it that the above mentioned council shall hear and determine appeals brought before it arising from the decision of the local government inter-faith Committee and also has power to issue regulations considered necessary to guide the state inter-faith council and local government inter-faith committee in the performance of their functions under the bill if signed into law.

He further mentioned that the bill when signed into law, stipulates that in each of the 23 local Government areas of the state, a committee to be known as the Local Government Inter-faith Committee has to be established

According to him, the local Government Inter-faith committee shall consider and recommend to state Inter-faith Regulation Council all applications for the grant of licence to religious preachers as well as screen and recommend preachers for the grant of license among other functions.

The supplementary provision explained that all cassettes, compact disks (CDs), flash drives or any other communication gadgets containing religious recordings from accredited preachers may be played inside a private dwelling unit or vehicle, entrance porch (zaure), Church, Mosque and any other designated place of worship.

It further stated that any person who plays religious cassette or uses a loud speaker for religious purposes between the hours of 11pm to 4am in a public place, and uses a loudspeaker for religious purposes other than inside Church or Mosque commits an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years or pay a fine of less than N200,000.00 or both.

The bill added that any person who publicly insults or seeks to incite contempt any religion, by making false statements in such a manner as to be likely to lead to a breach of peace, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of not less than five years a fine of not less than N100,000.00 or both

Sen. Kabiru Gaya (APC-Kano), says he is still in the race for the Deputy President of the Senate.

Gaya, who made this known while briefing newsmen on Friday in Abuja, said though the All Progressives Congress (APC) had not made its position known on who to endorse for the position, he was optimistic to be chosen by the party.

On concern that he might not get the party’s endorsement because he is from same region with the number one citizen, President Muhammadu Buhari, Gaya said it was not a cause for concern.

According to him, there is no fear of lopsidedness or marginalisation of other regions because the party has zoned Speakership of the House of Representatives to the South West.

He said he was not against lawmakers from the South being prominently represented in the senate.

He, however, stressed that he worked tirelessly during the general elections to ensure that APC won in almost all local government areas under his constituency and should be considered.

“The party has not zoned the position yet but I think it should look inward”, NAN quoted him as saying.

“On the fear of lopsidedness, we have senate president zoned to the North and speaker to the south, so I think deputy president of the senate coming from North West is fair enough.

“I am not denying anybody from the South from being in our team but for the position of Deputy Senate President, I think it should be given to South West.

“Besides in the National Assembly we do not talk region, party or religion. We are senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that is what matters,” he said.

The lawmaker also declared support for Sen. Ahmad Lawan’s Senate Presidency bid, saying they would make a good team.

He further said, “In terms of experience, I think I am well placed to take the position, being a ranking senator and former governor among other advantages that I have.

Gaya, however, said he was fine with any decision the party came up with, adding that he would take it in good fate should the party not endorse him.

“If the party does not zone the deputy senate president to North West I will be fine with it but I want the party to do justice ahead of 2030,” he said.

Gaya is one of the five senators-elect, who have indicated interest in running for the position of the Deputy President of the Senate on June 11 when the 9th National Assembly will be inaugurated.

Others were Sen. Ovie Omo Agege (APC-Delta), Sen. Orji Uzo Kalu (APC-Abia), Sen. Francis Alimikhena (APC-Edo) and Sen. Ajayi Boroffice (APC-Ondo).

Some senators-elect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Young Progressive Party (YPP), on Friday, declared support for Sen. Ahmad Lawan’s Senate Presidency ambition.

The opposition parties’ senators-elect at the occasion included Clifford Odia (PDP-Edo), Mathew Urhoghide (PDP-Edo) and Gershom Bash (PDP-Cross River).

Others were Abba Moro (PDP-Benue), Lawali Anka (PDP-Zamfara) and Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP-Anambra).

NAN reports that many APC senators-elect were also at the occasion.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the event in Abuja, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah of YPP said Lawan remains the most experience and competent senator to assume the office of the senate president.

“He has the experience, he is competent and has served as majority leader in the Senate,” he said.

Ubah said with the long years of experience as a legislator, Lawan would successfully deliver on his mandate if elected to be the Senate helmsman.

He stressed that though he was backing the candidacy of Lawan, he still remained a YPP senator-elect.

“I am a YPP senator-elect and I intend to build YPP, give it a national coverage and recognition

“So I am a bonafide YPP member and as pioneer YPP senator-elect, I will continue to be YPP lawmaker,” he said.

Also speaking, the PDP senator-elect, Comrade Moro, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) preferred candidate “has a very beautiful resume.”

“Senator Lawan is one of the longest serving legislators in this country and a Senate leader.

“When you juxtaposed that experience and exposure vis-a-vis the vision that is required of Nigeria, you will come to acknowledge that in the present circumstances, he is the best candidate for this job,” he said.

He said he was also attracted by his campaign vision titled: “A National Assembly that Works for Nigeria.”

“I found some attractions and a mixture of chemistry here when i discovered that Senator Lawan has such theme like ‘A system that works for all Nigerians.

“There is no doubt about it that this country,

Moro, who said that the decision to be in politics was his, said supporting Lawan’s candidacy should not be misconstrued as plans to defect from PDP to APC.

“Let me tell you, as far as I am concerned, the decision to be in politics in the first place was solely my own.

“The decision to choose PDP above other political parties in this country was also my own too. I am a foundation member of PDP.

According to him, I can tell you that I am not leaving PDP; PDP is my platform, PDP is my dream party and as a democrat, I believe in the objectives of the PDP and i will continue to be a member of the PDP.

Earlier, Lawan said if elected as senate president, “he would reposition the Senate to carry out its constitutional duties of legislation, oversight and representation in an open and transparent manner’’.

Rep Femi Gbajabiamila, who is vying for the position of speaker, House of Representatives, said Lawan’s agenda ”practically mirrors the same agenda we have in the House.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Friday expressed reservations over the judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which directed it to issue a Certificate of Return to Rochas Okorocha as Senator-elect for Imo west senatorial district.

In a statement signed by Festus Okoye, INEC director of voters education and publicity, the electoral body said it was worried that “if electoral impunity is allowed to flourish, any individual can harass, intimidate and put the Commission’s officers under duress, procure a favourable declaration and be rewarded with a Certificate of Return.”

The commission, however, said it would meet to “do the needful” over the court judgement as well as another one from a high court in Imo state directing it “not to issue a certificate of return to any of the candidates that contested the Imo west senatorial district election.”

INEC had refused to issue the certificate to Okorocha who was declared winner of the poll, after the returning officer reported that he declared the former Imo Governor winner under duress.

It said while the order from the High Court of Imo was issued on May 23, “the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court, Abuja is the latest in time and determined the rights of the parties in relation to the subject matter of the Certificate of Return, in respect of the Imo West Senatorial Election.

“As a law-abiding institution, the Commission will continue to obey judgements of all courts of competent jurisdiction.”