The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill for the first reading, aiming to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow independent candidates to contest elective offices in future elections.

The bill, 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 presidential, governorship, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, and local government council elections,” seeks to broaden the political space.

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Sponsored by Akin Rotimi, the House spokesperson and member representing Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency, Ekiti State, the bill seeks to amend sections 7, 65, 106, 131, 177, and 221 of the constitution.

In Section 7, sub-section 4A, the bill stipulates that “Notwithstanding any other law, any individual eligible to vote or contest an election into the State House of Assembly, shall have the right to be a candidate for election to any local government office notwithstanding that such individual does not belong to, or is not sponsored by any political party.”

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Section 4B elaborates further: “A candidate who does not belong to or is not sponsored by any political party shall only contest an election if (i) In the case of a chairmanship election, such a candidate has obtained the verified signatures of at least ten per cent of registered voters from at least two-thirds majority of all the electoral wards in the respective local government area;

(ii) “In the case of a councillorship election, such a candidate obtains the signatures of at least ten per cent of registered voters from at least two-thirds majority of all the polling units in the respective electoral wards, provided always that the signatures shall be verified by the Independent National Electoral Commission or the State Electoral Commission; and that a registered voter shall not sign for more than one independent candidate in respect of the same office.”

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It is noteworthy that a similar bill introduced during the 9th Assembly failed to secure the required approval from State Houses of Assembly.

Speaking to reporters at the National Assembly, Rotimi emphasized the need for qualified individuals, unaffiliated with political parties, to have the opportunity to run for public offices without obstruction.

“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.

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Rotimi, who was elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, highlighted that in advanced democracies, individuals can contest for positions as independent candidates.

He added that independent candidates will need to meet specific requirements to qualify for elections, such as securing the endorsement of a certain percentage of registered voters in their constituency.

According to the bill obtained by DAILY GAZETTE, an independent candidate must receive the endorsement of at least 10 per cent of registered voters spread across two-thirds of the constituency.

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Section 221 of the Constitution has also been amended to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to “Develop and publish guidelines and procedures for the nomination, verification, and participation of independent candidates in all elections.”

The bill also tasks INEC with prescribing a security deposit for independent candidates seeking elective offices created by the constitution or any Act of the National Assembly.

At the briefing, Ibijoke Faborode, Executive Director of ElectHer, a non-governmental organization, supported the bill, saying it was aimed at expanding the democratic space.

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“It is democratising the space, you know, for people like you and I to also have access to the electoral process as well and to ensure that every Nigerian is also part of the process,” she said.

Faborode added, “It will also ensure that most vulnerable populations such as women, youths, and persons with disability are given a level playing field, to explore opportunities within the political and electoral system.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan addressed allegations that $49.8 billion was lost from government treasuries during his administration, vehemently denying the claims.

He asserted that no funds were missing, attributing the allegations to the leadership of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the time, led by the current Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.

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Jonathan spoke during the launch of the book “Public Policy and Agents Interests: Perspectives from the Emerging World,” co-authored by Shamshudeen Usman, who served as Minister of Planning under his government.

In his remarks, he emphasized, “I did not agree completely with some issues raised by one of the contributors. But I don’t intend to join issues because he is our royal father. And he is here.”

He specifically countered Sanusi’s claims made in the book that his dismissal as CBN governor was due to exposing the alleged disappearance of funds.

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Jonathan stated, “The one he raised that he was sacked because he blew a whistle that the Federal Government lost $49.8 billion is not quite correct. He was not sacked; he was suspended because the Financial Reporting Council queried the expenditure of CBN.”

Jonathan maintained that the scale of the alleged loss was implausible, saying, “For a country whose budget was about $31 billion at the time, it was impossible for the funds to have been stolen from the country’s purse.”

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He recalled being confronted by then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel regarding the matter, asserting that such a significant sum could not have been taken from a struggling nation.

He further stated, “On the issue of $49.8 billion, till today, I am not convinced that the Federal Government lost $49.8 billion.”

He noted that the budget at the time was $31.6 billion, questioning how such a substantial amount could vanish without any noticeable impact, adding, “The researchers that wrote this book need to do further research.”

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Jonathan pointed out the inconsistencies in Sanusi’s figures, mentioning, “First $49.8 billion, later $20 billion, and later $12 billion. I don’t even know the correct one.”

He claimed vindication when the narrative shifted over time and referenced an investigation by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which found that while $1.48 billion could not be accounted for by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), no massive theft occurred.

He also highlighted that a Senate committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi investigated the issue and deemed the claims unfounded.

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The book launch also marked the formal unveiling of the Shamsuddeen Usman Foundation, established by Dr. Usman’s children in his honor to promote education and artificial intelligence in Nigeria.

As of the report’s filing, Emir Sanusi had not yet spoken at the event, where he served as the Royal Father of the Day.

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has assured a level playing field for all political parties ahead of the upcoming local government elections scheduled for October 5, 2024.

During the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign launch in Gboko on Wednesday, Alia emphasized his commitment to a transparent electoral process.

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He was represented by his deputy, Sam Ode, who reiterated the governor’s promise for free and fair elections.

Ode encouraged party supporters to mobilize and ensure victory for APC candidates across all positions in the forthcoming polls.

“Governor Hyacinth Alia is resolute in his commitment to a fair election process, ensuring that every political party has an equal opportunity,” he stated.

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During the event, Ode presented party flags to 23 APC chairmanship candidates and their deputies, urging them to prioritize service to their constituents.

In his welcome address, Benjamin Omale, the APC caretaker committee chairman, highlighted the committee’s efforts to address the concerns of dissatisfied aspirants, ensuring that all voices were acknowledged and valued.

Omale emphasized the state APC administration’s dedication to fulfilling its campaign promises and urged party supporters to turn out in large numbers on October 5 to vote for all APC candidates.

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He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the National Chairman of APC, and the working committee for their support in fostering unity within the Benue APC and establishing the caretaker committee.

A Federal High Court in Kano has dismissed an application by the All Progressives Congress (APC) seeking to halt the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) from conducting local government elections.

The APC, along with Hon. Aminu Aliyu Tiga, had filed a motion ex parte on September 20, requesting the court to issue an interim injunction to stop the council election scheduled for October 26, 2024, across the 44 local government areas.

The plaintiffs also requested that the court direct all parties to maintain the status quo and prevent KANSIEC from proceeding with election preparations until a motion on notice could be heard.

They further sought permission for a court bailiff to serve the necessary legal documents to KANSIEC and other defendants, including the Kano State House of Assembly and the Attorney General, via the Attorney General’s office.

However, in his ruling on Wednesday, Justice Simon Amobeda refused to grant the interim injunction that would have delayed the election process.

He allowed the APC to notify KANSIEC and the other defendants about the court proceedings and abridged the timeline for hearing the substantive application to five days from the date of service.

The judge set the hearing for October 4, 2024, and emphasized the need for all parties to avoid actions that could prejudice the case.

This decision follows an earlier ruling by Justice Ado Maaji of the Kano State High Court, which had issued an interim injunction restraining the APC, PDP, NNPP, and 16 other political parties from interfering with KANSIEC’s statutory responsibility to organize the council elections.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidates in Kwara State, Musbauhdeen Esinrogunjo and Ismail Muhammed, have urged their supporters to remain calm following the recently concluded local government elections.

Both candidates, who ran for the Ilorin West and Ilorin East council seats, expressed their dissatisfaction with the election process, alleging widespread irregularities and vowing to challenge the results in court.

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Speaking to journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat in Ilorin, Esinrogunjo described the election as a “charade” and accused the state government, in collaboration with the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), of rigging the outcome.

He claimed the election was marked by voter intimidation, harassment, manipulation, and vote-buying, and stated that the people’s mandate had been stolen.

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Esinrogunjo called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and restore faith in the democratic process, while also advocating for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take charge of conducting local government elections nationwide.

He further alleged that results were announced from undisclosed locations and that the state’s ruling party hastily swore in its candidates despite their poor performance at the polls.

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He argued that election results should have been declared at designated collation centers in the wards and council secretariats.

Despite the alleged irregularities, Esinrogunjo assured supporters that they would pursue all legal avenues to reclaim their mandate, expressing confidence that the judiciary would deliver justice.

He emphasized that they had video evidence supporting their claims and intended to present it in court to contest the election outcome.

The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Anti-Corruption and Correctional Service to investigate bribery allegations against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service.

The directive followed the adoption of a motion presented by Rep Patrick Umoh, highlighting the need to address the accusations.

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Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, made the claims, alleging that the EFCC dropped money laundering charges against popular cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, after receiving a ₦15 million bribe.

Otse further alleged that Bobrisky, convicted of defacing the Naira, did not serve his sentence in a correctional facility but was housed in an apartment outside the confines of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

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Rep Umoh emphasized that these accusations raise serious concerns about the credibility of Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies and the nation’s image in the global fight against corruption.

The House unanimously agreed to the motion and tasked the committee to investigate the matter and report back within three weeks for further legislative review.