Council of State, Electoral Reform And Ohakim ByReuben Abati The Council of State to which the decisions of the Federal Executive Council on the question of electoral reform had been forwarded for advice, acted ultra vires when it began to pretend that the body has certain superior powers. The spokesman for this meeting of serving and retired high-ranking public officials which was held on Tuesday, March 24, was Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, (I shall return to him presently), and he had in reporting the outcomes used such phrases as "Council rejected", "Council decided". "Council directed", "Council approved." The Council of State is a creation of Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution; its composition and functions are spelled out in Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the same Constitution. It is expressly stated that the Council "shall have power to - advise th...
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