TheCable

The national assembly has directed its clerk to transmit a bill seeking to provide for independent candidacy in presidential, governorship, national and state assemblies as well as local government elections to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

The national assembly resolved to send the constitution alteration bill number 58 after the senate approved recommendations of a report.

The report was presented on Tuesday by Ovie Omo-Agege, deputy president of the senate and chair of the ad hoc committee on constitution amendment.

While presenting his report, Omo-Agege said Gombe house of assembly has approved the constitution alteration bill – making it the 24th state to approve the legislation.

The bill proposes that for any citizen to contest the presidential election as an independent candidate, they must obtain the verified signatures of at least 20 percent of registered voters from each of the 36 states.

To participate in a governorship election, the independent candidate must obtain the verified signatures of at least 20 percent of registered voters from each of the LGAs of the state.

The bill provides that any citizen willing to contest national assembly elections must obtain the verified signatures of at least 20 percent of registered voters from each of the LGAs in the respective senatorial district or federal constituency.

The upper legislative chamber also sent a bill to the president seeking the inclusion of national assembly presiding officers in the national security council.