The Senate on Wednesday at plenary rescinded it’s early amendment of the Electoral Act that made it compulsory for political parties to conduct the primaries only through Direct method.
Accordingly, it re-amended the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021, passed by the National Assembly on November 18, 2021.
President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan on resumption of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly on Tuesday, assured that the 2021 Electoral Act would be given the needed attention it deserves to enable President Buhari assent to it in good time.
The Senate at its plenary in Abuja on Wednesday declared that it has now amended Clause 84 to allow for direct, indirect, and consensus options of nominating party candidates for political party elections.
Specifically, the Senate in Clause 84(2) of the report recommended direct, indirect primaries or consensus as procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions.
It 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 part.”
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 centers 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 for its re-commital to the Committee of the Whole.
The motion for the re-amendment of the Clause 84 of the Electoral Act 2021 was sponsored by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North).
Abdullahi whole presenting the report, noted that President Muhammadu Buhari had signified withholding his assent on the Electoral Act No. 6 2010 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2021 which was passed by the National Assembly and forwarded to the President on Thursday, 18th November, 2021.
He said that the rational for President Buhari withholding assent bordered on his observation in Clause 84.
President Buhari in the letter dated December 13, 2021, and addressed to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, had said that his decision to withhold assent to the electoral bill was informed by advice from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government after a thorough review.
Buhari had said that signing the bill into law would have serious adverse legal, financial, economic and security consequences on the country, particularly in view of Nigeria’s peculiarities, adding that it would also impact negatively on the rights of citizens to participate in government as constitutionally ensured.
The Senate Leader explained that the motion for re-commital of the bill to the Committee on the Whole was against the backdrop of the “need to address the observation by Mr. President 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 While for consideration and passage.
