Tag: ELECTORAL BILL

Electoral Act: APC governors lobby NASS caucuses over direct primary

Aminu Imam

State governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), are reaching out to the partys caucuses in the National Assembly in their latest bid to forge a compromise with the leadership of the legislative arm on the controversial direct primary clause in the Electoral Act amendment Bill. The Bill is currently awaiting the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari who is an aid to be still consulting widely to determine whether to sign it or not. It was gathered that the Chairman of the APC Governors Forum,…

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Contentious Electoral Bill: INEC sheds light on Buharis letter

Aminu Imam

Says president’s action constitutional The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), yesterday commented on the letter written to it by President Muhammadu Buhari, over the contentious Electoral Act amendment Bill. Recall that President Buhari, who received the Bill on November 19, has until December 19 to sign it or withhold his assent and communicate to the National Assembly his feelings and comments about it. Recall that President Buhari, who received the Bill on November 19, has until December 19 to sign it or withhold his assent and communicate to the National…

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NLC writes Buhari, demands assent to Electoral Bill

Aminu Imam

Says President’s decision capable of making or marring nation’s democracy The Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Electoral Bill recently amended by the National Assembly. The NLC, in a letter signed by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said that President Buhari’s decision has such an effect on Nigeria’s democratic future that it can either make or mar the progress everyone expects. The NLC further enjoined the president to ‘demonstrate courage, leadership as well as protect our democracy’, by assenting into law the amended…

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National Assembly transmits Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 to President Buhari for assent

Aminu Imam

The National Assembly has transmitted the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare, who made this known in a one-paragraph statement issued yesterday, stated that the Bill had been transmitted to President Buhari. Recall that the National Assembly passed the Electoral Act Amendment bill on November 11. In the amendment, the lawmakers approved the electronic transmission of election results in Nigeria. They also adopted direct primaries for political parties in…

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DG VON appeals to President Buhari to assent to Electronic Transmission Bill

Aminu Imam

The Director-General, Voice of Nigeria, (VON), Chief Osita Okechukwu, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to endorse the electronic transmission of results contained in the recent Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill passed by the National Assembly. Speaking on the raging controversy over Direct Primary mode of electing party candidates inserted into the yet-to-be-endorsed Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, Okechukwu, who is a foundation member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), appealed to President Buhari not to ‘throw away the baby and the bath water’. In an issued statement in Abuja on Sunday,…

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Electoral Bill: ‘Direct primaries not revolt against Govs but to protect federal lawmakers’ interference’ Senate INEC C’tee Chair

Aminu Imam

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Kabir Gaya (APC-Kano), has said that the direct primaries clause adopted by the Senate in the proposed Electoral Amendment Bill is not a revolt against State governors but an opportunity to protect legislators from the governors. The senator, who appeared alongside the member of the House of Representatives representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Babajimi Benson (APC -Lagos), stated this when he appeared on a television a programme on Tuesday. Recall that the Senate on Tuesday revisited Section 87 (1) of the Electoral Bill…

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Electoral Bill: Senate moves to impose direct primaries on political parties

Aminu Imam

There are indications that the leadership of the Senate has commenced moves to force only the direct method of conducting primary elections on political parties. Part of the moves, according to sources, are plans by the All Progressives Congress, (APC), lawmakers to bring to the floor of the Senate direct primary as an Amendment Bill to be passed, using their numerical strength. The current system allows political parties to use either direct or indirect methods of conducting primary elections. Both chambers have already passed how parties will conduct their primaries, in the…

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The electronic transmission of election results; NASS coup against the people?

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By: Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir Nigerias electoral system reform is progressing. It has made some positive dramatic moves up the ladder of democratic tenets since 1999 when Nigeria returned to civil rule. But there are pundits who believe the progress should have been faster than what we have witnessed thus far. You may want to disagree with them. But the recent debate on the amendment of the electoral act, especially clause 52(2) of the bill that prescribes that the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC might adopt electronic voting and transmission of…

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