Reps create website for public engagement on independent candidacy bill
The House of Representatives has created a website to enhance public awareness and interaction on the Independent Candidacy Bill.
Addressing journalists on Thursday in Abuja, the Spokesperson of the house, Rep. Akin Rotimi (APC-Ekiti), said that the primary aim of the bill is to deepen political participation as much as possible.
He said that the country had witnessed seven electoral circles since the commencement of the fourth republic and that it was important to improve the system as the nation looks forward to the eighth electoral circle.
“We have also created a website, www.independentcandidacybill.ng, where you can find a lot of information, especially on what the bill is not because there are a lot of misconceptions of the technical details of the bill,” he said.
Mr Rotimi, the sponsor of the bill, recalled that it was first introduced in the 7th Assembly and through the 8th and 9th assemblies, it did not enjoy full stakeholders’ support.
Ibijoke Faborode, ElectHER CEO, a nonprofit organisation providing technical support for the bill, said the website would go live on Friday.
Ms Faborode said the bill was critical as it helps advance democracy.
She said it was important for citizens to see the bill as a “citizen’s bill” to advance democracy.
The Independent Candidacy Bill scaled first reading on September 28 in the House of Representatives.
The bill states that in the case of a presidential election, an independent candidate must obtain the verified signatures of at least 10 per cent of registered voters from at least two-thirds majority of all states of the federation.
It said that the signatures should be verified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and that a registered voter will not sign for more than one independent candidate in respect of the same office.
It said that notwithstanding any other law, any individual eligible to vote or contest an election into the State House of Assembly shall have the right to be a candidate for election.
It stated that an independent candidate must obtain verified signatures of at least 10 per cent of registered voters from at least two-thirds majority of the electoral ward in the state constituency.
(NAN)
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