Connect with us


BIG STORY

Electoral Act: Senate Finally Bows To Buhari, Includes Consensus For Party Primaries

Published

on

The Senate added the consensus primary option in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill on Wednesday, as requested by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Compulsory direct primaries were removed from the bill by both chambers of the National Assembly, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.

While the House allowed parties to choose between direct and indirect primaries, the Senate allowed for both, as well as a consensus approach, as indicated by President Obama in a recent interview with Channels Television.

During the interview, Buhari stated that, in addition to direct and indirect primaries, lawmakers should include consensus.

He said, “All I said (is that) there should be options,” he said. “We must not insist that it has to be direct; it should be consensus and indirect.”

Buhari had last year vetoed the electoral bill and sent it back to the National Assembly over the restriction of political parties to direct primaries.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives had suspended action on the bill till resumption on Tuesday, after the Christmas and New Year break.

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives amended Clause Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 which is Clause 84 of the electoral bill, by inserting the indirect primary option.

The Senate, however, adopted Clause 84(2) as recommended by the Committee of the Whole and approved direct primary, indirect primary or consensus as the procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for elections.

The disagreement between both houses is expected to delay the passage of the bill.

The Senate also approved the recommended Clause 84(3) which prescribes that “A political party that adopts the direct primaries procedure shall ensure that all aspirants are given equal opportunity of being voted for by members of the party and shall adopt the procedure outlined below: (a) In the case of Presidential Primaries, all registered members of the party are to vote for aspirants of their choice at a designated centre at each ward of the federation.

It provides further that, “similar procedure as in (a) above, shall be adopted for governorship senatorial, federal and state constituencies.

The Majority Leader of the Senate, Yahaya Abdullahi (APC/Kebbi-North), had moved a motion for the recommittal of the bill to the Committee of the Whole.

Abdullahi noted that the motion was against the backdrop of the “need to address the observation by Mr President and make necessary amendment in accordance with Order 87(c) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2022 (as amended); and relying on order 1(b) and 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2022 ( as amended).”

The Senate’s move, it was learnt, was based on the request by the President

However, it was not a smooth ride for the bill at the House. There was tension in the House as members were divided on whether to amend the legislation or override the President’s vote.

At the opening of plenary on Wednesday, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, beckoned on some leaders of the House, who approached his seat.

Shortly after, other leaders and ranking members of the House joined the meeting.

Those who met with Gbajabiamila included the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase; Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu; Chairman, House Committee on Finance, James Faleke; Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, among others.

Other lawmakers watched as they engaged themselves in arguments for over 15 minutes.

Our correspondent observed that Elumelu was particularly in disagreement with what was being said by others at the meeting.

Gbajabiamila consequently called for an executive (closed-door) session, which lasted about 30 minutes.

As the chamber was opened, there was noise in the chamber, which showed that there was a disagreement among the lawmakers.

Elumelu and the Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu, led other opposition members to a corner of the chamber where they met for about five minutes, agreed on what to do and dispersed to their respective seats.

As the Speaker called the chamber to order, he asked that all items on the day’s order paper be stepped down except the recommittal of the electoral bill – Item 6, being the first motion of the day; and Item 9, being the first report for consideration.

Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Abubakar Fulata, moved the motion for the recommittal to the Committee of the Whole. Elumelu seconded the motion.

Ado-Doguwa moved the motion that the House dissolve into Committee of the Whole to consider the bill, while Leke Abejide seconded the motion.

At the Committee of the Whole, consideration of the bill did not start until 18 minutes, during which the lawmakers conferred with themselves in groups and copies of the legislation were distributed to them.

The Speaker recalled how Buhari withheld assent to the bill, read out Paragraph 5 of the President’s letter to the National Assembly. Gbajabiamila also cited Order 12 Rule 20 of the Standing Orders of the House which prescribed how the lawmakers should go about rejected bills.

Considering the report by the Committee of the Whole, Gbajabiamila put the amended Clause 84(2) to voice vote and it was unanimously adopted.

The clause now reads, ‘The procedure for nomination of candidates by political parties for various elective positions shall be by direct primaries or indirect primaries.’

As the House was to revert to plenary, an opposition member, Dagomie Abiante (PDP/Rivers) raised a point of order to say that “there are other errors,” which Gbajabiamila said were “being looked into.”

The Speaker, however, ruled him out of order, stating that the rules of the House, which he had read out, were specific about the process and the lawmakers were bound by the limitations. “We are confined to the observations made by Mr President. We have a near-perfect document; it may not be perfect but we have a near-perfect document,” he stated.

After Gbajabiamila overruled Abiante, several lawmakers approached the Speaker where they were seen pointing out things in the bill to him.

We amended only Clause 84(2) –  Gbajabiamila

After the meeting that lasted about 10 minutes, the House adopted the report from the Committee of the Whole.

The Speaker explained what had been done to the bill, saying, “For emphasis’ sake, I need to state categorically that what was considered and adopted by the House was only a clause and that was Clause 84(2). “

Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu, who addressed journalists after the session, stated that Buhari was specific about the amendments he sought from the National Assembly, which was having direct and indirect options.

Consensus will subvert popular will, antithetical to democratic principles – CSOs

Meanwhile, a coalition of civil society organisations working towards the perfection of the electoral process in Nigeria on Wednesday rejected the introduction of consensus by the Senate as a mode of nomination of candidates in the Electoral. Act Bill 2021.

The activists, however, commended the swift action taken by the National Assembly upon resumption to review its position on direct primaries as the sole mode for the nomination of candidates in the Electoral Bill 2021.

While expressing fears that the new consensus mode “is antithetical to democratic principles and will result in the subversion of popular will”, the CSOs called for “the immediate withdrawal of this new introduction which is alien to the original Electoral Bill 2021 to speed up the work of the harmonization committee and conclusion of the amendment process on or before the 21 January 2022 deadline.”

The membership of the CSOs comprised Yiaga Africa, International Press Centre, Centre for Citizens with Disability, The Albino Foundation, CLEEN Foundation, Institute for Media and Society and Nigerian Women Trust Fund.

Others were Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, Partners for Electoral Reform, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, Nigeria Network of Non-Governmental Organizations and Inclusive Friends Association.

The groups in a joint statement signed on their behalf by the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, rejected the action taken by the Senate.

The statement read in part, “We reject the decision of the Senate to introduce a completely new mode of ‘consensus’ as a procedure for candidates’ nomination. The consensus model is antithetical to democratic principles and will result in the subversion of popular will. Furthermore, it violates the rights of aspirants to equal participation in party primaries and limits the choice of voters to candidates who did not emerge from democratic primary elections.

“Judging from experience, the consensus has occasioned a litany of litigation in Nigeria’s electoral process. We call on the Senate to, in line with the popular will of Nigerians, adopt the position of the House of Representatives which now recognizes direct and indirect primaries as the procedure for nomination of candidates.”

The groups said the divergent positions of both chambers could delay the speedy conclusion of the process.

“We, therefore, call for the immediate withdrawal of this new introduction which is alien to the original Electoral Bill 2021 to speed up the work of the harmonization committee and conclusion of the amendment process on or before the 21 January 2022 deadline,” the CSOs said.

BIG STORY

BREAKING: Humanitarian Minister, Nentawe, Emerges APC National Chairman

Published

on

The National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress has appointed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Yilwatda Nentawe, as the party’s substantive chairman.

Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo State and chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, moved the motion during the ongoing 14th Committee meeting at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.

The motion was supported by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

The minister was sworn in immediately after.

 

More to come…

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

EFCC Declares 28-Yr-Old Woman Wanted Over Alleged Fraud, Theft

Published

on

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared Oyinkansola Folashade Okanlawon, aged 28, wanted over alleged involvement in fraud and the illegal acquisition of funds.

The announcement was made through the Commission’s official X handle, stating that Okanlawon is being sought for reportedly obtaining money through false pretence and theft.

The notice reads: “The public is hereby notified that OYINKANSOLA FOLASHADE OKANLAWON, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the EFCC in an alleged case of Stealing and Obtaining Money by False Pretence.

“She is 28 years old and a native of Ipokia LGA in Ogun State. Her last known address is 21 Hammed-Kasumu Street, Chevron Drive, Lekki, Lagos.

“Anybody with useful information as to her whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt or Abuja offices or through 08093322644; its e-mail address: [email protected] or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies.”

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

Building A Cleaner Lagos: Environment Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab Backs LAWMA’s Triad of Education, Collaboration — By Babajide Fadoju

Published

on

  • As LASEPA Drives Science-Based Environmental Solutions

 

Lagos generates over 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, with single-use plastics clogging drainages, polluting water bodies, and threatening public health.

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has historically relied on enforcement to manage this crisis, but recent initiatives signal a shift toward education, collaboration, and innovation.

The awareness walk, organized in collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and Alternative Bank, in Yaba and Tejuosho markets, exemplifies this evolution, promoting a zero-plastic lifestyle and responsible waste management.

While LAWMA’s progress is commendable, scaling these efforts to address Lagos’ massive waste challenges requires deeper public engagement, sustained partnerships, and innovative solutions.

Plastic pollution is a pressing issue in Lagos. With 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste generated annually, less than 10% is recycled.

Single-use plastics, like sachets and styrofoam, exacerbate flooding, harm aquatic life, and infiltrate the food chain, posing health risks such as asthma and heart disease.

A 2023 audit by LASEPA revealed that each Lagosian discards roughly 34 kilograms of plastic into water systems yearly, equivalent to 10 plastic bottles daily. The state response includes the 2024 styrofoam ban and the “Adopt-a-Bin” program, which encourages waste sorting.

As spearheaded by the commissioner of Environment and Water Resources, Honourable Tokunbo Wahab. LAWMA has demonstrated collective responsibility, aligning with the THEMES+ agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.

LAWMA’s educational efforts are gaining traction. The agency’s collaboration with the Glo Skillbridge programme, graduating street sweepers trained in skills like baking, fashion design, and digital marketing, empowers its workforce while fostering environmental stewardship.

These initiatives complement LAWMA’s enforcement, which saw over 6,700 arrests for environmental violations from January to May 2025. This “stick and carrot” approach; balancing penalties with education, aims to create an informed populace capable of making responsible waste disposal choices.

Collaboration is central to LAWMA’s strategy. The partnership with LASEPA and Alternative Bank during the awareness walk highlights the power of public-private partnerships (PPP). Alternative Bank’s donation of waste bins to markets supports the Zero-Plastic Lagos initiative, while their emphasis on converting plastic waste into economic value through recycling aligns with global circular economy principles.

Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, LASEPA’s General Manager, stressed the need for sustainable alternatives, noting that plastic waste in the food chain endangers public health. Market leaders at Tejuosho, speaking in local dialects, pledged to adopt waste sorting and regular sanitation, reinforcing community-driven change. Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, Permanent Secretary of the Office of Environmental Services, praised Alternative Bank’s corporate social responsibility and urged other organizations to join LAWMA in delivering a cleaner, safer Lagos.

Despite these efforts, challenges persist. Public resistance to policies like the 2025 single-use plastics ban stems from concerns over the cost of sustainable alternatives and inadequate transition periods. Businesses argue that reusable options are less affordable, while enforcement measures sometimes alienate communities. Lagos’ rapid urbanization, with over 1,500 sachet water factories producing 60 million sachets daily, overwhelms existing waste infrastructure. LAWMA’s Smart Bin innovation and decentralized operations across Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) are steps forward, but scaling these requires significant investment and public cooperation.

To address these hurdles, LAWMA must deepen community engagement. The use of local languages in outreach, as seen in the Yaba and Tejuosho walk, ensures inclusivity across Lagos’ diverse population. Expanding campaigns with influencers, traditional media, and community leaders can build consensus and counter resistance. LAWMA should also explore deposit schemes for sachets and bottles, incentivizing recycling while reducing litter. The agency’s collaboration with LASEPA, as seen in their joint push for regional air quality standards at the Nairobi Clean Air Forum, offers a model for waste management. By integrating waste sensors into Lagos’ public transit network and training African engineers to build affordable monitors, LAWMA can enhance data-driven governance.

Private sector partnerships are equally critical. Alternative Bank’s support, alongside initiatives like the Glo Skillbridge programme, shows how corporate involvement can amplify LAWMA’s impact. Expanding the PPP model to include more businesses could fund infrastructure upgrades, such as waste-to-energy plants and additional transfer loading stations. These partnerships can also drive innovation, like upcycling plastics into construction materials, creating jobs and reducing environmental harm.

LAWMA’s collaboration with LASEPA is particularly promising. By aligning with a science-based agency, LAWMA can refine its data-driven approach, ensuring policies are grounded in evidence.

For instance, LASEPA’s work with University of Lagos to develop affordable air quality sensors could inspire similar innovations in waste monitoring. Such synergies can strengthen enforcement while fostering public trust through transparent, science-backed policies.

LAWMA’s shift toward education, collaboration, and innovation marks a turning point in Lagos’ waste management journey. As envisioned by Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab and ultimately, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, the end goal to have a cleaner, greater Lagos.

Continue Reading



 

Join Us On Facebook

Most Popular