Senate Dumps Controversial Electoral Clause

Senate Dumps Controversial Electoral Clause
Obiora Ani, Abuja

The Nigerian Senate has passed the Electoral Act [Amendment] Bill 2010, deleting the controversial Clause 11 of Section 87 , which intended to make lawmakers automatic members of National Executive Committee, NEC, of political parties.

The Bill seeks to provide adequate time for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to issue notices, receive nominations of candidates from political parties and ensure internal democracy in the parties.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over deliberations on Tuesday, said the Bill had stripped INEC of the power to disqualify candidates.

VON correspondent reports that the controversial inclusion of the lawmakers as automatic executive members of political parties had pitched the people against the legislators.

Yinka