January 19, (THEWILL) – The House of Representatives on Wednesday, reintroduced the rejected Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021, and approved direct and indirect primary clauses as a mode of electing candidates by political parties for general elections.
THEWILL recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had in December 2021 withheld his assent to the bill transmitted to him, citing the impracticality of the mandatory direct primary mode earlier recommended by the two Chambers of the National Assembly.
The rejection, however, compelled both the House and the Senate to reconsider the bill and vote to expunge the mandatory direct primary Clause.
Reps Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, had at the plenary, on Tuesday, hinted that the House would revisit the rejected Bill and would do the needful because of its importance to the 2023 general elections.
Consequently, the Bill was reintroduced on Wednesday at the Plenary.
While reconsidering the bill in the committee of the whole, the House unanimously passed the provisions Section 84(2) that accommodate direct and indirect mode of primaries.
Earlier, the Upper chamber recommended direct, indirect or consensus mode of primary for selection of candidates by political parties for elective positions in the 2023 General Elections.
