Electoral Act disenfranchising Governors, Senators, others at PDP primaries to commence Sunday

As the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) commences the party primaries on Sunday, the Electoral Act disenfranchised the elected governors, their deputies and National Assembly members.

Other statutory delegates that the electoral act screened out during the primaries, as applicable to all the 17 other political parties, including President, Vice President, former president and former governors

Others are the National Working Committee members, state party chairmen and secretaries, local government chairmen, their deputies, councillors and party chairmen in the 774 local government areas.

NEWSFLASH NIGERIA understands that by virtue of Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act, 2022, delegates to vote at the Indirect Primaries and National Convention of political parties to elect candidates for elections shall be those democratically elected for that purpose only.

In the Electoral Act, the political parties are to submit their delegates’ lists no later than seven days before the primaries to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The implication is that if the President Muhammadu Buhari did not signs the fresh amendment to the Electoral Act into law by Saturday (today), the political office holders in the PDP won’t be able to vote unless they are voted as delegates since the party already fixed its presidential primary for May 28 and 29.

In APC, if the President does not sign the bill into law by Sunday (tomorrow), the political office holders, including Buhari, may not be able to vote unless they have been voted as delegates.

NEWSFLASH NIGERIA learnt that the National Assembly reverse what they termed a “fundamental error” in the Electoral Act, 2022 but President Buhari needs to sign the bill into law.

The National Assembly hurriedly passed an amendment to Section 84 (8) of the Electoral Act, which states, “A political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice of its candidate shall clearly outline in its constitution and rule the procedure for the democratic election of delegates to vote at the convention, congress or meeting.”

This implies that if the amendment does not become law, only elected delegates can vote at the convention, thereby disenfranchising thousands of party chieftains.

Having hurriedly passed the amendment into law to make the officeholders statutory delegates, with the House of Representatives passing the bill for second and third reading at the same sitting to concur with the Senate, the lawmakers hoped the President would promptly sign it so they and other statutory delegates could vote.

• PDP clarifies delegate to elect candidates from State Assembly to Presidential primaries
• 2023: PDP NWC adjusts dates for primaries

However, as of the time of filing this report, the President, who travelled on Thursday to the United Arab Emirates on a condolence visit and to renew ties with the country, had yet to sign the bill into law. He is expected back in the country today (Saturday).

Meanwhile, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has clarified the delegates to elect candidates for elections ahead of the party’s primary election.

The party revealed that those delegates democratically elected for purpose are only eligible to vote during the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Governorship and Presidential primaries.

The National Organizing Secretary of the party, Hon. Umar M. Bature, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.

According to him, by virtue of Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act, 2022, delegates to vote at the Indirect Primaries and National Convention of political parties to elect candidates for elections shall be those democratically elected for that purpose only.

He said the three (3) AD-HOC Delegates per ward, elected at the Ward Congresses and one (1) National Delegate per Local Government, elected at the Local Government Area Congresses are eligible to vote during the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Governorship and Presidential primaries.

Hon Bature also revealed that the NWC of the Party has adjusted the dates for the party’s primaries.

According to him, the new date of the party’s primary elections for the State Houses of Assembly and the House of Representatives seats is now May 22.

He said “By virtue of Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act, 2022, delegates to vote at the Indirect Primaries and National Convention of political parties to elect candidates for elections shall be those democratically elected for that purpose only.

“Consequently those qualified and eligible to vote as delegates in the forthcoming Primaries and National Convention of our great Party, the PDP are the three (3) AD-HOC Delegates per ward, elected at the Ward Congresses and one (1) National Delegate per Local Government, elected at the Local Government Area Congresses.

“Furthermore, the NWC wishes to inform our Party members that the State Houses of Assembly Primaries to elect our State House of Assembly candidates, earlier scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 2022, will now hold on Sunday, May 22, 2022, from 8:00 am to 12 noon; while the House of Representatives Primaries to elect our House of Representatives candidates will also hold on Sunday, May 22, 2022, from 2:00 pm.

“All aspirants, critical stakeholders, leaders and teeming members of our Party should please take note”.

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