. Okays direct primary for political parties
By Emma Ogbuehi
Apparently bowing to pressure from concerned Nigerians, the Senate on Tuesday made a volte-face and reconsidered its stance on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The Red Chamber, contrary to its earlier position, has empowered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to determine the best mode to transmit election results as demanded by majority of Nigerians.
By the new turn, INEC will now decide without any external interference, as empowered by the 1999 Constitution, how to transmit election results.
The Senate also approved that all political parties must use the direct primary mode in picking candidates.
In July, the Senate empowered the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to determine the electronic transmission of election results.
The provision caused an outrage, with many calling on the Senate to follow the example of the House of Representatives which adopted the use of technology “where practicable.”
But on Tuesday, the Senate bowed to public opinion by empowering the INEC to determine the procedure for the transmission of results during general elections by amending some clauses of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) bill 2021, passed on July 15, 2021.
The Upper Legislative Chamber also approved direct primaries for aspirants to all elective positions.
The chamber explained that the decision to subject the amended clauses of the bill to re-committal was reached after critical examination by the Senate Committee on INEC.
The chamber added that some fundamental issues which required fresh legislative action were observed by the Senator Kabiru Gaya-led Committee in the bill.
Accordingly, the chamber in a motion for re-committal, re-amended certain aspects of the bill contained in Clauses 43, 52, 63 and 87, respectively.
The upper chamber in Clause 52 of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill passed almost three months ago, had approved that “the Commission (INEC) may consider the electronic transmission of results, provided the national coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure by the National Communications Commission and approved by the National Assembly.”
The Senate, however, on Tuesday amended the clause when the bill was subjected to re-committal to provide that, “subject to section 63 of this bill, voting at an election and transmission of results under this bill shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the Commission.”
The chamber also approved Clause 87 to read “a political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this bill shall hold direct primaries for aspirants to all elective positions, which shall be monitored by the Commission.”
While moving a motion to rescind the earlier decision of the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday, Yahaya Abdullahi, Senate Leader, said there is a need to make “necessary amendments” to the bill.
“After critical examination of the bill by the Senate Committee on INEC, some fundamental issues which requires fresh legislative action on the following clauses 43, 52, 63 and 87 were observed,” he said.
“Desirous of the need to address the observations by the committee and make necessary amendments; and relying on order 1(b) and 53(b) of the Senate Standing Order.”
Contributing to the debate, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senate Minority Leader, said parties should be allowed to use whatever mode of primary election that suits them.
“The original situation was that the party was left with choices to determine what suits them,” Abaribe said.
“Not all parties have capacity to do direct primaries. I think we may have to leave it open.”
Also speaking, Opeyemi Bamidele, senator representing Ekiti central, said the provision for compulsory use of direct primary mode for political parties will ensure that every member of a political party participates in the process.
“With respect to conduct of primaries, this is to ensure that every party member participates in the process,” Bamidele said.
“It is a way of giving power back to the people.”
The four clauses in the bill were approved by the senate in ” the committee of the whole” after Senate President Ahmad Lawan put them to voice votes.
Members of the Senate Conference Committee on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021, are expected to meet with their counterparts in the House of Representatives to harmonise the two versions passed by both chambers.