Reps Invite INEC Chairman Over Cost Of Direct Primaries
The House of Representatives has invited the Independent National Electoral Commission over funding challenges for direct primaries.
Some national assembly members have expressed willingness to approve a loan for the federal government to fund the election should the budget surpass N500bn as being speculated, in a bid to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari, signs the electoral act amendment bill along with the controversial mandatory direct primaries.
The national assembly had on November the 9th, 2021, passed the bill which makes it mandatory for all political parties to elect candidates through direct primaries.
The bill was subsequently transmitted to the president on November the 19th and is expected to sign it or return it to the national assembly by December the 19th.
It was gathered that, the president had written a letter to the chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, seeking comment from INEC over the electoral act amendment bill.
INEC national commissioner for voter education and publicity, Festus Okoye, had informedthat the direct primaries would cost a lot more especially in terms of personnel.