Reps Begin Amendment Of Electoral Act

PHOTO: THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN SESSION.

ABUJA April 29, (THEWILL) - The House of Representatives on Thursday commenced the amendment of the Electoral Act with members backing provisions prescribing complete Independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

They also supported the establishment of a special fund for INEC to enable it assess direct funding from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, independent of Executive control.

The lawmakers however backed the retaining of the clause restricting voting to Nigerians resident, working or originating from areas covered by the registration center thereby excluding those in the diaspora from voting.

The bill which lawmakers showed willingness to give accelerated passage seeks among other things to provide for the participation of independent candidates for elections and to place ceilings on the election expenses for aspirants and political parties.

It also seeks to outlaw the use of symbols and logos with religious, ethnic or regional connotations or any form of ideology that suggests the confinement of its interest to any part of the country.

The amendment bill seeks to move the maximum election expenses for Presidential election from existing N500 million to N1 billion and that of Governor from existing N100 million to N500 million.

It also seeks to place the maximum election expenses for National Assembly election from existing N20 million to N40 million and State Assembly from N 5 million to N10 million.