House Of Reps Passes Independent Candidacy Bill Into Law

The independent candidacy bill was passed into law by Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Tuesday, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

WITHIN NIGERIA reports that the bill was passed into law during a plenary session chaired by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gabjabiamila.

The House directed the Clerk of the National Assembly to transmit the bill to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent after passing the bill. The bill was included in Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 58.

Similarly, the House passed legislation to include the National Assembly’s presiding officers as members of the National Security Council (NSC).

Essentially, the bill will amend the third schedule of the principal act to insert paragraphs (bb) and (ba) into the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 46, which will allow the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives to be elected.

The House directed the Clerk of the National Assembly to transmit the bill to President Buhari for his assent after passing the bill. It also urged the Houses of Assembly in Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Plateau, and Taraba States to provide feedback on the bills.

The resolution was passed in response to a motion sponsored by Deputy Speaker Hon. Idris Wase, Minority Leader Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Hon. Babajimi Benson, and 76 other lawmakers.

The motion recalled that;

On Wednesday, May 3, 2023; the Clerk to the National Assembly was directed to transmit the Constitution, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 47 that has met the requirement of Section 9(2) of the Constitution to the President for assent. Also recall that the Houses of Assembly of Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Plateau, and Taraba States that were yet to forward their resolutions were urged to do so in compliance with Constitutional obligation.

The Gombe State House of Assembly has accordingly forwarded its resolution. Convinced that with the approval of Gombe State House of Assembly, the Constitution, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill Nos. 46 (Membership of the National Security Council to include Presiding Officers of the National Assembly), 2023 and 58 (Independent Candidacy), 2023 have met the provisions of Section 9(2) of the Constitution, for passage.