…May disqualify ex-INEC staff, non-graduates from presidential polls

By Tordue Salem

Report of the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has recommended the repeal and re-enactment of a brand new Electoral Act by November.

The essence of the new law, according to the committee, is to bar non-degree holders and former Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, staff from contesting presidential and other polls, Vanguard learned, yesterday.

A member of the committee in the House, Kpam Jimin Sokpo (PDP-Benue), said the House would also repeal and do a total overhaul of the piece of legislation.

He said: “We are trying to compare the INEC’s proposed provisions, those of the Senate and existing Act. So the different positions from different stakeholders are what we are considering.

“The Act needs to be repealed; that’s what we agreed on. What we are doing right now is to look at different positions (for a new law) and harmonise it; we are doing that with CSOs (Civil Society Organisations).”

Also checks at the Rules and Business Committees of the Senate and House revealed that independent candidature, higher qualification for presidential candidates and disqualification of ex-INEC officials, featured prominently in the proposed new legislation.

A proposal to ban former INEC staff from participating in partisan politics for at least five years, submitted by Tasir Raji (Lagos-APC) is entitled, “A Bill For An Act To Amend the Electoral Act To Prohibit Electoral Officers from Engaging in Partisan Politics within Five Years of Retirement, Resignation and Official Relief of Duties.”

The bill creates a new subsection 2 in the Principal Act, to add to section 146.

In summary, the bill “seeks to amend the Electoral Act to prohibit electoral officers from engaging in partisan politics within five years of retirement, resignation and official relief of duties and other related matters.”

Another bill, sponsored by Deputy Whip of the House, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (APC-Abia), and also included in the proposed new law, seeks to raise the academic qualification for presidential candidates of political parties to degree or its equivalent.

Also, a proposal to allow others run for political offices independent of political parties is being considered by the National Assembly.

Both chambers of the National Assembly are expected to lay their reports in September when the National Assembly resumes from its annual recess.

SOURCE

Ban non degree holders from presidency is awesome

Barring, Ex INEC staff from contesting may be unconstitutional

Useless country, ban non degree holder like you with degree have anything brain in your aside from stealing public fund.

Like for Nigeria lawmakers share for Bayern munich

This is Nigeria

Na to dey watch this rogue men remain

.

Lol.. Good one.. No one wants to relate to a Waec president again..

Imagine the shame even the senators are facing outside the country..

Imagine listing all your academic qualifications and then you heard from one corner "but you have a president with an O'Level", lol u go just shut up for some while and think about it..

Never again would body language win election in this country.

Anything to move our darling nation forward is a big welcome.

Good news for me.
We don't want clueless leaders anymore.

Talk is cheap.
Mtcheeeeeew

Nice moves

DanoskiDaniels:
Barring, Ex INEC staff from contesting may be unconstitutional

Are they not the one to make it constitutional

It sounds good, we deserve intelligent and educated leaders, but won't barring INEC staff from contesting be unconstitutional?

Useless Senators.

How i wish what happened to Mali will also happen to Nigeria.


I laugh in Swahili

Superjazz:
Like for Nigeria lawmakers share for Bayern munich

Who Nigerian lawmakers EPP Bayern Munich that won me money last nite.

Banning non degree holders won't do much. Because these days one can't get a degree under six months. So, they should look for other avenues to make sure that those that are contesting for electoral positions are of sound minds.

Because I am tired of illiterates taking us for a ride in this country

If only they can implement it

IamWonderful:
Ban non degree holders from presidency is awesome

HAHA THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN? NORTHERNERS WILL NEVER LET THAT

l

this space is booked for righteousness89

Misplacement of priority,we still have inec not being able to present electronic evidence in court,Any Electoral amendments without e-voting is nonsense.
The chairman should not be selected by the presidency.
We need E- voting platform,if BB naija and Some universities in Nigeria can use it,if banks and transactions can go Electronic,let Delloite or forthright Japanese or any sound foreign companies make use of our phones for voting phone using apps or USSD, this will curb inflation of voters by some people who do it and the unease of queuing and agbero wahala experienced during voting,if FIRS want to debit or deduct Tax ,they know how they go about it.