A bill seeking to introduce independent candidacy in the country’s electoral process on Wednesday scaled through second reading in the House of Representatives.
Rep. Edward Pwajok (PDP-Plateau), who sponsored the bill said that the objective was to open the country’s political space.
“In order to deepen our democracy and open the political space, it has become imperative to allow for the right of individuals to contest for any elective office, not necessarily on the platform of political parties but even as independents,’’ he said.
The lawmaker expressed concern that the history of political parties in the country had been a chequered one.
He said: ‘’Political parties had been run in very undemocratic manner leading to frequent amendments of the electoral act and judicial interpretations on vexed issue of substitution of candidates by parties.
“Till date, illegal substitutions and imposition of candidates is still the norm among political parties.
“Ideally, parties are supposed to be made up of...
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