On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed a bill on its first reading aimed at amending the 1999 Constitution.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the bill is geared to permit independent candidates to compete for elective positions in upcoming elections.
The proposed law is titled, “A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended) to allow for the participation of candidates who are not sponsored by political parties in the presidential, governorship, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly and local government council elections.”
Sponsored by Akin Rotimi, the spokesperson for the House and representative of the Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency in Ekiti State, this bill aims to amend Sections 7, 65, 106, 131, 177, and 221 of the constitution.
A copy of the bill obtained by our correspondent disclosed that an independent candidate is expected to get the endorsement of at least 10 per cent of registered voters spread across at least two-thirds of the constituency.
Section 221 of the Constitution was amended to provide for the Independent National Electoral Commission to “Develop and publish guidelines and procedures for the nomination, verification, and participation of independent candidates in all elections.
The electoral umpire is also required in the alteration to “Prescribe a security deposit to be paid by an independent candidate seeking election into any elective office created by the constitution or any other Act of the National Assembly.”
