House of Reps amends Electoral Act on statutory delegates

The House of Representatives has amended the Electoral Act 2022, to allow members elected into public offices and executives of political parties, known as ‘statutory delegates’, to participate in parties’ primaries, congresses, and conventions.

The House of Reps amended Section 84(8) of the Act, after considering a Bill sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Rep. Abubakar Fulata, at plenary in Abuja on Wednesday.

The Bill is titled, ‘A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act, No. 13, 2022’.

This is coming barely 24 hours after the Senate amended the Act, passing the first, second, and third reading at a sitting.

The current version, which was assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari in February, prevented statutory delegates from taking part in party primaries.

According to Section 84 (8) of the Electoral Amendment Act, a political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice of its candidates shall clearly outline in its constitution and rules the procedure for the democratic election of delegates.

This according to the Act is to vote at the convention, congress, or meeting, in addition to statutory delegates already prescribed in the constitution of the party.

Statutory delegates include local government chairmen and their vices, councillors, political party chairmen in all the 774 LGAs, state, and federal lawmakers.

Others are Governors and their Deputies, President and Vice President, political parties’ National Working Committee members, state party chairmen, and secretaries.

The Star