The House of Representatives on Wednesday amended the Electoral Act, 2022, to allow statutory delegates to participate and vote in the conventions, congresses, or meetings of political parties.
The bill which was sponsored by Abubakar Fulata, the ‘Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act, No. 13, 2022; and for Related Matters’ was passed a day after lawmakers in the Senate approved a similar amendment to the law.
Those identified as statutory delegates include the President, Vice President, members of the National Assembly, governors and their deputies, members of the State Houses of Assembly, chairmen of councils, councilors, and national working committee of political parties, among others.
Its passage followed a speedy consideration of the bill which scaled first, second, and third readings on Wednesday during an emergency plenary at the lower chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja.
The proceedings began with an executive session for some housekeeping with the Deputy Speaker of the House, Idris Wase, presiding as Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila was absent.
About half an hour later, the plenary resumed while the bill was speedily passed through the first and second readings, Channels Television reports.