The Senate has re-amended the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021, recommending direct, indirect primaries or consensus as procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for various elective positions.
The upper legislative chamber had passed the bill on November 18, 2021, with direct primary compulsory for all political parties, a clause that formed part of the reasons President Muhammadu Buhari refused assent to the bill.
However, Ezrel Tabiowo, special assistant to Senate President Ahmad Lawan, in a statement on Wednesday disclosed the bill had been re-amended.
He said the Senate also recommended in Clause 84(3) that “a political party that adopts the direct primaries procedure shall ensure that all aspirants are given equal opportunity of being voted for by members of the party.”
Clause 84(4) further provides that “a political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice of its candidate shall adopt the procedure outlined below; (a) In the case of nominations to the position of Presidential candidate, a political party shall, (i) hold special conventions in each of the 36 states of the federation and FCT, where delegates shall vote for each of the aspirants at designated centres in each State Capital on specified dates.”
The clause provides that a national convention shall be held for the ratification of the candidate with the highest number of votes.
The amendment followed a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North) for its re-commital to the Committee of the Whole.
