NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RE-AMENDS ELECTORAL ACT AMENDMENT BILL, APPROVES DIRECT AND INDIRECT PRIMARIES

The Senate on Wednesday re-amended the Electoral Act Amendment Bill passed by the National Assembly on November 18, 2021. Special Assistant to the Senate President, Ezrel Tabiowo, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

He said the senate, in Clause 84 (2) of the report, approved direct, indirect primaries or consensus as 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.

According to the statement, the amendment followed a motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, representing Kebbi North for its re-committal to the Committee of the Whole. It would be recalled that the direct primary clause had earlier hindered the assent to the bill, however, the President said he will sign the bill if the legislators will effect changes which must include the addition of consensus candidates and indirect primary options to the mode of selecting a candidate for an election.