National assembly approves independent candidacy for elections

Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) has been directed by the senate to transmit a constitution alteration bill No. 58 to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent in line with the provisions of the Authentication Act.

The bill which seeks to provide for independent candidacy in presidential, governorship, national and state assemblies and local government councils elections.

The clerk was also directed to transmit to the president, constitution amendment bill No. 46, which seeks to include the presiding officers of the National Assembly in the membership of the National Security Council.

The independent candidacy bill states that for any Nigerian national to contest presidential election as independent candidate, he or she must obtain the verified signatures of at least twenty per cent of registered voters from each State of the Federation provided that a registered voter shall not sign for more than one independent candidate in respect of the same office.

For governorship, the independent candidate must obtain the verified signatures of at least twenty per cent of registered voters from each of the local government areas of the state.

Anyone willing to contest National Assembly elections must obtain the verified signatures of at least twenty per cent of registered voters from each of the local government areas in the respective senatorial district or federal constituency.

It also empowers the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prescribe the payment of administrative fees by independent candidates for respective elections.

The electoral body must also waive fifty percent of the administrative fees for women candidates.