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.”
The Bill, sponsored by Akin Rotimi, the spokesperson for the House and representative of the Ikole-Oye Federal Constituency in Ekiti State, aims to amend sections 7, 65, 106, 131, 177, and 221 of the Constitution.
Briefing journalists, Hon. Rotimi said the interest in the bill is to further democratize Nigeria’s electoral process.
He noted that the Bill is an opportunity to democratize the electoral space, to allow for greater inclusion from those who otherwise might not have the opportunity to be sponsored by party.
He said since power resides with the people, there is a need to give the people the opportunity to represent themselves.
The House spokesperson noted that the Constitution doesn’t have the provisions for independent candidates, and therefore requires an amendment.
Sharing more insight on the Bill, he said, “So it’s a constitutional amendment bill which would, of course, go through the entire process that has been outlined as far as the sixth official to the 1999 Constitution as amended is concerned.
“There are comparable jurisdictions where this already happens. There are countries that have had extremely solid parties, but, you know, still have independent candidacy provisions. So that’s essentially the broad principles of it”.
As regards the provision for qualifications in terms of academic and otherwise, he said the provisions remain the same with anybody vying for public office in Nigeria, saying, “the only difference now is the issue of a party sponsoring that person.
“Instead of going through that primary process and all of that at the party level, there’s an opportunity for someone that feels he wants to represent his people to do so”.
He said to emerge as an independent candidate, such an individual must secure a minimum threshold of registered voters in the particular area within which he/she is contesting for elections.
Hon. Rotimi said when the Bill is passed, women and people with disabilities will have a chance to compete for elective positions and be properly represented in government, pointing out that only 18 women are in the 10th National Assembly.
He emphasized that the Bill is not exclusively for those seeking election into the National Assembly, “It’s also even for the position of president, for the position of governors and other electoral positions that are also specified, even down to the grassroots local government.”
The lawmaker told journalists that the Bill will need consequential adjustments to other external legislation, like the Electoral Act and some other existing legislation for it to have full force.
“So, this is just the beginning of the process of engaging with our political parties, engaging my colleagues within the house, engaging different stakeholders, including the media, to the point where we feel that we’re sufficiently prepared to be able to go for a Second Reading.
“So, because we understand the process very well, I want to make sure that it’s as inclusive as possible. But I can tell you that this particular Bill has gone through a series of consultations; and so far, it’s gotten a lot of positive feedback from a lot of my colleagues, particularly, the questions around how exactly is it going to work out.
“So some have felt that you need to get 50% of the registered voters to be nominated, someone has said 10%, while some said 5%. But as we all know, it has to be at a sufficient threshold where you don’t have an all comers affair; and anybody can just decide to run.
Hon. Rotimi stated that the process of choosing an independent candidate has to be specified in the Bill to ensure only serious minded people can participate in it.
