Again, Reps Push For Independent Candidacy Ahead Of 2027 Poll

ABUJA – The House of Representatives has proposed far-reaching amendments to sections of the 1999 constitution (as amended) to allow independent candidates to contest the presiden­tial, governorship and National As­sembly elections beginning in 2027.

The proposal followed the adop­tion of an amendment bill by the House Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Dr. Benjamin Kalu.

Ahead of voting on the first batch of compiled bills, the committee rec­ommended amendments to Sections 7, 65, 106, 107, 131, 177 and 228 of the constitution.

The proposed legislation is titled ‘A Bill for an Act to Alter the Pro­visions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to Provide for Independent Candidacy in Presidential, Governorship, Na­tional Assembly, State Houses of Assembly and Local Government Councils Elections and for Related Matters.’ ­

 A copy of the bill exclusive­ly obtained by Daily Indepen­dent showed that Section 7 is to be amended by inserting a new subsection (4A) after sub­section (4).

Clause 2 of the bill provides that Section 7(4A) shall read: “In the case of an independent candidate, the person shall have obtained the verified sig­natures of at least 20 percent of registered voters from each electoral ward in the respec­tive local government council for a chairmanship candidate, and signatures of at least 20 percent of registered voters from each polling unit in the respective electoral wards for a councillorship candidate.”

The amendment further stipulates that a registered voter shall not sign for more than one independent candi­date seeking the same office, and that the signatures shall be verified by the State Inde­pendent Electoral Commis­sion.

On qualifications for election, Section 65(2) of the constitution is proposed to be amended by inserting, after the word “party,” the phrase “or the person is an indepen­dent candidate.”

A new paragraph (c) is also inserted to read: “In the case of an independent candidate, the person shall have obtained the verified signatures of at least 20 percent of registered voters from each of the local government areas in the re­spective senatorial district or federal constituency, as the case may be.”

Similar provisions are rep­licated in Sections 131 and 177 of the constitution, which out­line the qualifications for elec­tion to the offices of president and governor, respectively.

The bill also seeks to amend Section 228 of the constitution, which empow­ers the National Assembly to make laws for the funding of political parties through the Independent National Elec­toral Commission (INEC).

The proposed amendment introduces a new paragraph conferring additional regula­tory powers on INEC.

Specifically, paragraph (c)(a) proposes the confer­ment on INEC of the power, through regulations, to pre­scribe the payment of admin­istrative fees by independent candidates for respective elections, provided that INEC shall waive 50 percent of such fees for women candidates. Voting on the bill is expected to commence after the Christ­mas and New Year holidays.

The push for independent candidacy has been a recur­ring demand in Nigeria’s constitutional and elector­al reform debates for more than two decades. Civil so­ciety groups, constitutional lawyers and political reform advocates have consistently argued that the exclusive con­trol of electoral participation by political parties restricts democratic choice and en­trenches the dominance of a few powerful party struc­tures.

Under the current constitu­tional framework, only candi­dates sponsored by registered political parties are eligible to contest elections, effectively shutting out individuals who may enjoy popular support but lack party backing.

Critics say this has fuelled godfatherism, the monetisa­tion of party primaries and the imposition of candidates, while discouraging credible professionals and community leaders from participating in politics.

The issue featured promi­nently during the 2014 Nation­al Conference and in several reports of past constitution review exercises, though it failed to secure the required legislative approval. Propo­nents have also pointed to examples from other democ­racies, including African countries, where independent candidates are permitted at various levels of elections.

Supporters of the reform argue that allowing inde­pendent candidates would widen political participation, strengthen accountability and give voters more options at the polls. Opponents, how­ever, have raised concerns about possible abuse of the process, ballot overcrowding and the administrative bur­den of verifying signatures.

The current proposal by the House of Representa­tives represents one of the most detailed attempts so far to constitutionally recognise independent candidacy, set­ting out specific thresholds, verification mechanisms and regulatory powers for electoral authorities ahead of the 2027 general elections.