JUST IN: Senate succumbs to Buhari, reverses self on direct primaries for parties

The Senate on Wednesday succumbed to President Muhammadu Buhari’s request, and has reversed itself on the use of indirect mode of primaries for for political parties in the country.

Announcing its decision during plenary on Wednesday in Abuja, the Upper Chamber said it was opting for different options which would see the conduct of party primaries adopt the direct, indirect and the consensus options.

The adoption of the various options will now see the Senate amending Clause 84 of the contentious Electoral Bill to include direct, indirect, and consensus options of nominating party candidates for party elections.

The National Assembly had passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill and sent same to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.

READ ALSO: Governors not against direct primaries – Gov Abdullahi Sule

But the president had refused to sign the bill, but instead returned it to the federal legislature, with the argument that it was wrong to constrain political parties to only one option of direct primaries.

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