The House of Representatives has approved for first reading a bill seeking an alteration to the 1999 Constitution to allow independent candidates to stand for elective offices in future elections.
The proposed law, titled, “A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended) to allow for the participation of candidates who are not sponsored by political parties in the presidential, governorship, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly and local government council elections”, was passed on Thursday.
Sponsored by the House spokesperson and member representing Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency, Ekiti State, Akin Rotimi, the bill seeks to amend Sections 7,65, 106,131,177, and 221 of the constitution.
Addressing reporters at the National Assembly Complex, Rotimi said the time had come for qualified individuals without sponsorship from political parties to run for any office of their choice without hindrance.
“This bill will broaden the democratic process, thereby allowing citizens who are not affiliated with any political party the opportunity to run for public offices,” Rotimi said.
While noting that he was sponsored by the All Progressives Congress, Rotim stressed that in advanced democracies, people vie for various positions as independent candidates.
He said to qualify to contest the main election, independent candidates will be required to meet certain requirements such as getting the endorsement of a certain number of registered voters in the area he wants to represent.
