The National Assembly has re-amended the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill yesterday, approving both direct and indirect primaries for political parties for elective positions.
Both Chambers made the re-amendment in separate plenary sessions. In the Senate, the lawmakers also added the consensus clause for the nomination of candidates by political parties.
In a statement, the upper chamber equally noted 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.
In a statement, the upper chamber equally noted 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.
On Clause 84(4), it read 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 centers in each State Capital on specified dates.
However, in the House of Representatives, the legislators removed the consensus option. The Lower Chamber rescinded its decision on direct primaries for political parties, by adopting both direct and indirect primaries in the Bill. This followed the re-committal of the Bill at the House during plenary.
The House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who presided over the Committee of the Whole, put the question into a voice vote, which was unanimously adopted.
In his ruling, Gbajabiamila said that the Committee of the Whole had considered the request of the President to allow political parties to choose between direct and indirect primaries.
He said, in accordance with the rules of the House, it could not change the entire body of the Bill but could only address issues raised by the President.
