The National Assembly has finally taken a stance on the Electoral Act Amendment bill passed by the two chambers , adopting direct, indirect and consensus mode of selection of candidates by political parties.
The president of the Senate Ahmed Lawan while reading out the Harmonized report , explained that the adoption of Direct, indirect and concensus mode of primary by political parties was against the backdrop of the need to address the observations raised by President Muhammadu Buhari by allowing political parties make their choice.
On the new insertion of consensus, Lawan said , the two chambers have produced a very clear definition on how a consensus candidates will emerge
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.
It also approved the recommended 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 and shall adopt.
(a) In the case of Presidential Primaries, all registered members of the party are to vote for aspirants of their choice at a designated centre at each ward of the federation.
It provides further that, “similar procedure , shall be adopted for Gubernatorial, Senatorial, Federal and State Constituencies.
It added that, “Special Conventions should be held to ratify the candidate with the highest number of votes at designated centers at the National, State, Senatorial, Federal and State Constituencies.
Clause 84(4) further provides that “a political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice of its candidate shall adopt ….
(a) In the case of nominations to the position of Presidential candidate, a political party shall.
(i) hold special presidential convention at a designated centre in the Federal Capital Territory or any other place within the Federation that is agreed to by the National Executive Committee of the party.
It provides further , that the aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of voting, shall be declared the winner of the Presidential primaries of the political party and the aspirant’s name shall be forwarded to the Commission as the candidate of the party.”
The president of the Senate Ahmed expressed optimism that the president will sign the bill as passed
He added that the new legal framework will reform the electoral processes in Nigeria , bring about transparency, better accountability and integrity to the satisfaction of Nigerians and international communities.
He advised Political parties to follow the law when signed into law
President Buhari had in a letter dated December 13, 2021, to the national assembly explained that his decision to withhold assent to the electoral Bill restricting political parties to only direct primaries
would have serious legal, financial, economic and security consequences on the country, particularly in view of Nigeria’s peculiarities.
He added that it would also impact negatively on the rights of citizens to participate in government as constitutionally ensured.
