THE Senate on Wednesday amended and passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill in which lawmakers rescinded their earlier resolution prescribing that political parties use only the direct mode of primary election.
Under the amended bill, Clause 87, which deals with the mode of primary election to be used by political parties, political parties are now to use both direct and indirect modes of primary to choose candidates.
President Buhari had in December rejected the earlier bill observing that the prescription of only direct mode of primary under Clause 87 violates democratic right and open to abuse. He also cited insecurity and the cost of conducting direct primaries as his reasons for declining assent. He had also said he would sign the bill if changes are made to include the addition of consensus candidates and indirect primary options to the mode of selecting a candidate for an election.
In a motion to recommit the bill to the Committee of the Whole, the Senate Leader, Abdullahi Yahaya, prayed that the Senate “rescind its decision on the affected Clause of the bill as passed and recommit same to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.”
He recalled that the president withheld assent to the bill based on his observation in the clause stating that there was the need to address the observation and make necessary amendments in accordance with Order 87(C) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2022 (as amended); and also relying on orders 1(b) and 52(6) of the same Orders. The Order allows the Senate to reconsider the substantive motion for rescission.
In the Committee of the Whole, the lawmakers adopted Clause 84 of the bill, which reads “A political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this Act shall hold direct or indirect primaries for aspirants to all elective positions, which may be monitored by the Commission.”
There was no reaction or contribution from any lawmaker as the senators unanimously adopted the recommendations.
The amended Clause in the bill will be harmonised with the House of Representatives and afterwards, transmitted to the president for assent.
