The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday rescinded its earlier decision on making direct primaries the only method of electing candidates by political parties.
The House has now amended Clause 84 to allow for direct, indirect, and consensus options of nominating party candidates for party elections.
The direct primary clause had earlier hindered the assent to the bill by President Muhammadu Buhari.
However, President Muhammadu Buhari in an exclusive interview with Channels Television, earlier this year, said that he was willing to sign if only the legislators will effect changes which must include the addition of consensus candidates and indirect primary options to the mode of selecting a candidate for an election.
Similarly, the House of Representatives has reversed its decision on the compulsory direct primaries clause in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The lawmakers rescinded the move during a plenary session on Wednesday and rather adopted the direct and indirect primaries. It also expunged the consensus option.
They had gone on a closed-door session after which the chamber became rowdy.
But the reason for the rowdiness was unclear as they were seen in different groups conferring.
