President Muhammadu Buhari has finally signed the electoral act amendment bill into law.
The President assented to the bill at a council chamber of Aso Villa in Abuja on Friday.
Those present during the signing, were the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Others who are also present are the president cabinet which includes his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, and the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.
However, here is the summary of ten key provisions of the new ELECTORAL ACT LAW assigned today by President Buhari.
1. Clause 29(1) stipulates that parties must conduct primaries and submit their list of candidates at least 180 days before the general elections.
2. Clause 65 states that INEC can review results declared under duress.
3. Clause 3(3) states that funds for general elections must be released at least one year before the election.
4. Clause 51 says that the total number of accredited voters will become a factor in determining over-voting at election tribunals.
5. Clause 54(2) makes provisions for people with disabilities and special needs.
6. Clause 47 gives legislative backing for smart card readers and any other voter accreditation technology that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deploys.
7. Clause 34 gives political parties power to conduct a primary election to replace a candidate who died during an election.
8. Clause 50 gives INEC the legal backing for electronic transmission of election results.
9. Clause 94 allows for early commencement of the campaign season. By this provision, the campaign season will now start 150 days to the election day and end 24 hours before the election.
10. Clause 84 stipulates that anyone holding a political office – ministers, commissioners, special advisers, and others – must relinquish the position before they can be eligible to participate in the electoral process either as a candidate or as a delegate.
Recall on January 31, the Senate had sent a reworked bill to the president after he rejected the previous version passed by the National Assembly.
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