Senate Removes Direct Primary Clause In Electoral Amendment Bill

The Nigerian Senate has deleted clause 84 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill that only provided for direct primary to be conducted by political parties. 

This followed the recommittal of the 2021 electoral act amendment bill by the Senate Majority leader, Yahaya Abdullahi.

According to Abdullahi, the concern of the President on the bill was the provision of only the direct primary to be conducted by political parties.

By deleting only direct primary in clause 84 of the 2021 electoral act amendment bill which was passed, political parties now have three options of electing their candidates.

These options are stated to include, Direct, Indirect and Consensus means of selecting candidates by Political Parties in the bill.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan who clarify the position of the Senate said they will clean up the bill to include direct, indirect and consensus options for political parties to select their candidates.

While the executive is quiet on the errors found in the bill for the battle ahead, the National Assembly has deleted the contentious clause which will now provide the option of direct, indirect and consensus options for the selection of candidates by political parties.