consisting of the Prime Minister and the Federal Ministers, which shall act through the Prime
Minister, who shall be the chief executive of the Federation.
(2) In the performance of his functions under the Constitution, the Prime Minister may act either
directly or through the Federal Ministers.]
1[91. The Cabinet.__ (1) There shall be a Cabinet of Ministers, with the Prime Minister at its
head, to aid and advise the President in the exercise of his functions.
(2) The National Assembly shall meet on the twentyfirst day following the day on which a
general election to the Assembly is held, unless sooner summoned by the President.
(3) After the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, the National Assembly shall, to the
exclusion of any other business, proceed to elect without debate one of its Muslim members to be the
Prime Minister.
(4) The Prime Minister shall be elected by the votes of the majority of the total membership of
the National Assembly:
Provided that, if no member secures such majority in the first poll, a second poll shall be held
between the members who secure the two highest numbers of votes in the first poll and the member
who secures a��majority of votes of the members present and voting shall be declared to have been
elected as Prime Minister:
Provided further that, if the number of votes secured by two or more members securing the
highest number of votes is equal, further poll shall be held between them until one of them secures a
majority of votes of the members present and voting.
(5) The member elected under clause (4) shall be called upon by the President to assume the
office of Prime Minister and he shall, before entering upon the office, make before the President oath
in the form set out in the Third Schedule:
Provided that there shall be no restriction on the number of terms for the office of the Prime
Minister.
(6) The Cabinet, together with the Ministers of State, shall be collectively responsible to the
Senate and the National Assembly.
(7) The Prime Minister shall hold office during the pleasure of the President, but the President
shall not exercise his powers under this clause unless he is satisfied that the Prime Minister does not
command the confidence of the majority of the members of the National Assembly, in which case he
shall summon the National Assembly and require the Prime Minister to obtain a vote of confidence
from the Assembly.
(8) The Prime Minister may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his
office.
1 Subs. by the Act 10 of 2010, s. 29, for "Article 91".
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