Nigeria Senate on Wednesday removed the clause that makes direct primary compulsory for the election of candidates in political parties from the electoral act amendment bill.
Soon after, the House of Representatives followed suit amended the controversial clause.
Besides the amendment to Clause 84 of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan informed lawmakers that any further proposals for amendments will be considered and incorporated during the “clean up” of the Bill.
On the part of the House of Representative, at the “committee of the whole”, Abubakar Fulata, chairman of the committee on rules and business, sponsored a motion to include indirect primary in the electoral act amendment bill.
The House adopted that “the procedure for nomination of candidates by political parties for various elective positions shall be by direct and indirect primaries”.
Buhari had said that the mandatory use of direct primaries for all political parties in the country will be too expensive to execute, saying that it will put a financial burden on Nigeria’s slim resources.
He also expressed fears that the proposed mandatory use of direct primaries will amount to the violation of citizens’ rights will be violated and will lead to marginalisation for smaller political parties.
Buhari advised the National Assembly to look into the areas of concern and transmit the bill to him for assent.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday said it will not release an election timetable until the electoral act amendment has been passed.
“On the Electoral Amendment Bill currently before the National Assembly, the commission is encouraged by the Senate President’s assurance to give priority attention to the Bill when the National Assembly reconvenes from its recess today, and the commitment by the President to assent to the Bill as soon as the issue of mode of primaries by political parties is resolved,” INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu said in Abuja.
