House Of Representatives Pass Amended Electoral Bill, Remove Compulsory Direct Primary Clause

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed an amended version of the electoral bill after the lawmakers removed the compulsory direct primary clause.

Instead of the compulsory direct primary option, the clause was amended to allow political parties to choose the option of direct or indirect primaries in selecting their candidates.

Naija News reports the amended bill was passed during plenary on Thursday after it was read for the third time the same day.

The clause which mandated political parties to only select candidates through direct primaries was removed and the bill now allows the parties to use other available options.

The amended clause read: “The procedure for nomination of candidates by political parties for various elective positions shall be by direct and indirect primaries.”

It is expected that the bill will now be forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent after both houses of the National Assembly agree on the clause as Naija News recalls the Senate had on Wednesday, also dumped the compulsory direct mode of primary elections in an amended electoral bill.

The direct primary option has been replaced by the Senators to reflect direct, indirect and consensus in clause 85 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

In other news, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd), on Thursday warned against the reported planned increase in the pump price of fuel.

There are reports that Nigerians may soon pay more for Petrol after the National Economic Council, NEC, allegedly recommended that pump price should stand at ₦302 per litre.

Abubakar while speaking at the 19th Daily Trust Dialogue in Abuja warned that the increase will push more Nigerians into poverty.