The Senate at its plenary session of Tuesday, 10 May 2022, read for the third time and passed the Bill to amend the Electoral Act, 2022 (SB 1002).

Leading the debate on the Bill, the Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege (APC: Delta) informed lawmakers that the bill seeks to make provision for delegates who are not elected delegates, as prescribed in the Constitution of a Political Party, to participate in the convention, congress or meeting of the party.

In his submission, Sen Omo-Agege stated that the Bill amends section 84(8) of the Electoral Act, 2022, since the Principal Act does not provide for the participation of what is generally known as ‘statutory delegates’ in the conventions, congresses or meetings of political parties. He noted that the subsection clearly provides only for the participation of elected delegates in the conventions, congresses or meetings of political parties held to nominate candidates of political parties.

Speaking in support of the Bill, the President of the Senate, Sen. Ahmad Lawan (APC: Yobe) explained that the quick passage of the Bill, arises from the urgency to address the exclusion of statutory delegates from participating in party conventions, congresses or meetings ahead of the upcoming primaries of political parties. Sen. Lawan in his remark, said that the Bill, if passed into law will allow for the participation of statutory delegates in the activities of their political parties.

Prior to the passage of the Bill, the Senate considered the Bill for First and Second Reading and referred it to the Committee of the Whole for consideration in just one sitting held on the same day i.e., Tuesday, 10 May 2022,