Senate Passes Amended Electoral Bill, Gives New Directives To PDP, APC, Others

• The re-amended Electoral Bill has been passed by lawmakers of the Nigerian Senate led by Ahamd Lawan, the Senate president
• Lawan said it is expected that the controversial bill would be signed into law by the president when sent by the National Assembly
• According to Lawan, the re-amended bill is a harmonised version of the Senate decision with the members of the House of Representatives

The leadership of the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, January 25, passed the re-amended Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2022 for the second time.

The re-amendment of the bill followed a motion sponsored by the Senate leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi north) on the “rescission on clause 84 of the Electoral Act No. 26 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and Committal to the Committee of the Whole.”

Speaking at the plenary today, the Senate president, Ahmad Lawan said the process was done to harmonise the Ninth Senate and that of the House of Representatives.

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A statement signed by the special assistant to the Senate president on media, Ezrel Tabiowo, said Lawan expressed optimism that the bill's amendment will accommodate provisions for the mode of primaries for political parties across Nigeria.

The statement seen by Legit.ng said that the bill would be signed into law when transmitted by the National Assembly to the President for his assent.

Lawan further warned that any political party that fail or refuse to abide by the provisions on the mode of primaries, would miss out on the opportunity to participate during elections.

He said:

“On the mode of conducting primaries by parties to produce candidates, we have concluded our task on the amendment to the Electoral Act No. 6 2010 Bill.

“You would recalled that the Senate and the House passed the Electoral Act amendment Bill with slight difference."

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“While the House passed the mode of primaries to be direct and indirect only, the Senate passed the mode of primaries to be direct, indirect and consensus."

CSOs reject the Senate’s introduction of consensus mode for the nomination of candidates

Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill is currently taking the front burner in the Nigerian Senate.

Lawmakers had earlier promised that the bill would be reintroduced as soon as they resume in January 2021.

But a recent twist introduced by the Senate has triggered another round of protests from civil society groups.

I don't believe in direct primaries, Buhari blows hot, slams National Assembly W

The electoral amendment bill continued to generate reactions in the polity following President Muhammadu Buhari's refusal to assent to the bill.

In an interview on Wednesday, January 5, the president who cleared the air regarding his refusal to sign the bill, disclosed that there should be other options in choosing candidates.

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The Nigerian leader noted further that the introduction of only direct primaries is not democratic considering the system the nation is operating under.

Source: Legit.ng