By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
The Nigeria Senate, has passed an amendment to the Electoral Act 2022 to allow statutory delegates participate in political parties’ congresses and conventions.
The current version, which was assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari in February this year, fails to accommodate statutory delegates to take part in party primaries.
Statutory delegates include councillors, local government chairmen and their vice, political party chairmen in all the 774 LGAs, state and federal lawmakers, governors and their deputies, president and vice president, political parties’ National Working Committee members, state party chairmen and secretaries.
The Senate amended the clause after considering a bill sponsored by Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege during plenary on Tuesday.
The amendment will allow statutory delegates, to as well as delegates elected by various political parties, vote during congresses and conventions to elect candidates for various political offices.
Speaking after the Red Chamber passed the bill, Senate President Ahmad Lawan said it was an “unintended omission that needs to be urgently corrected before the commencement of party primaries next week.
He said the House of Representatives would also pass the same amendment on Wednesday before transmitting it to the president for assent latest next week.
The Senate President, said the amendment became imperative to ensure that no one is denied his rights during political parties’ activities.
