[BREAKING]: Electoral Act: Reps Okays Direct, Indirect Primaries In Amended Bill

File Photo: Members of the House of Representatives

Electoral Act: Reps Okays Direct, Indirect Primaries In Amended Bill For Party Primaries

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the House of Representatives on Wednesday reintroduced the rejected Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021 and approved direct and indirect primary clauses as a mode of electing candidates by political parties for general elections.

This online media platform recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had in December 2021 withheld his assent to the bill transmitted to him, citing the impracticality of the mandatory direct primary mode earlier recommended by the two Chambers of the National Assembly.

Special Assistant to the Senate President, Ezrel Tabiowo, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

He said the chamber, in Clause 84(2) of the report, approved direct, indirect primaries or consensus as to the procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions.

The Senate also approved 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 the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), for its re-commital to the Committee of the Whole.

Senator Abdullahi noted that the rationale for withholding assent bordered on the President’s observation in Clause 84.

Senator Abdullahi, however, explained that the motion for re-commital of the bill to the Committee of the Whole was against the backdrop of the “need to address the observation by Mr President C-in-C and make necessary amendment in accordance with Order 87(c) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2022 (as amended); and relying on order 1(b) and 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2022 ( as amended).”

Accordingly, the chamber rescinded its decision on the affected Clause of the Bill as passed and recommit same to the Committee of the Whole for consideration and passage.

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Paul Mbagwu