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Will Independent Candidacy Bill secure the 10th National Assembly’s place in history?
In a bid to reshape Nigeria’s democratic landscape, the Independent Candidacy Bill debate has been reignited in the 10th National Assembly.
This ground breaking legislation aims to amend the constitution to grant citizens the ability to contest elections without relying on political parties.
Before Nigeria attained independence and during the First Republic, individuals could contest elections as independent candidates.
The practice was part of the democratic framework inherited from the British colonial system. However, with the adoption of the 1999 Constitution, Nigeria’s political framework has become heavily dependent on party structures.
Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) explicitly states that only political parties can sponsor candidates for elections, thus effectively eliminating the possibility of independent candidacy.
From the fallout of the party structure to gain political power, Nigerians have not ceased to clamour for the return of independent candidacy.
This stems from the desire to expand the democratic space, allowing individuals without political party affiliations to contest elections.
This idea has gained traction over the years, as many Nigerians have argued that it will foster inclusiveness, deepen democracy and reduce the negative influence of god-fatherism and party politics in the country’s body polity.
Efforts to include provisions for independent candidacy have been made during constitutional amendment processes in the National Assembly, but with no tangible success.
One of the first significant pushes for independent candidacy was during the 2009 constitutional review. This, however, failed as lawmakers, largely influenced by political party structures, rejected the proposal.
Also, in the 2018 constitutional amendment, the Senate and House of Representatives voted on a bill to allow for independent candidacy, but they could not gather the mandatory two-thirds majority required for the bill to sail through.
The push for independent candidacy equally surfaced during the 2021 constitutional review.
However, it faced stiff resistance from some quarters, with former President Muhammadu Buhari also declining assent to the bill when it was passed during the Ninth Assembly.
Consequently, it was excluded from the amendments adopted by the then national assembly.
The current 10th assembly is, however, resurrecting the independent candidacy matter, with the introduction of “The Independent Candidate Bill.”
The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Akin Rotimi, stated that the bill sought to amend the 1999 constitution by creating a legal framework that would allow individuals to contest elective offices without being affiliated to any political party.
According to Rotimi, the House Committee Chairman on Media and Public Affairs, the alteration will provide citizens with the opportunity to run for public offices as independent candidates at the local government, state and federal levels.
He said: “The bill aims to promote inclusivity, broaden the democratic space and encourage greater political participation by Nigerians who are not part of any political party,” the lawmaker had said.
The bill was primarily championed by ElectHER, a non-partisan civil society organisation promoting active participation in governance, democratisation of socio-economic opportunities and greater inclusivity in peace processes.
ElectHER is providing technical inputs, mobilising public support and driving robust advocacy for the bill, particularly in the house of representatives.
Rotimi affirmed that part of the demands of the bill was that any Nigerian citizen who met the general qualifications for running for office in terms of age, residency and education could contest elections as an independent candidate.
In his argument, the lawmaker stated that for someone to run as an independent candidate under the independent candidacy bill, he/she would need to gather signatures from at least 10 per cent of the registered voters in his/her area.
“This can be an electoral ward, a senatorial district or even a whole state, depending on the position the candidate is contesting for,” he said, adding that the signatures were important to show that the candidate had real support from the people of his/her community.
“Before the candidate is allowed to run, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will check and verify all the signatures to ensure that they are valid and that the candidate truly has enough backing from voters,” he said.
According to him, the requirement is aimed at preventing just anyone from running for office without any real support from his/her area.
Rotimi said that this would act as a control to ensure that only serious candidates with genuine public backing can contest, thus reducing the risk of too many unqualified candidates crowding the elections.
He further stated that as part of the nomination process, independent candidates must pay a security deposit to INEC to serve as a commitment to their candidacy and ensure that they were serious about contesting the election.
He also stated that the candidates must secure at least 10 per cent of the total votes cast in the election, adding that if they failed to reach this threshold, the deposit would be forfeited.
This regulation, according to him, is to ensure that only candidates with genuine public support and a reasonable chance of success seek nomination as independent candidates.
According to him, the purpose of the rule is to discourage individuals who do not have substantial backing from the electorate from contesting.
The Founder and Chief Executive of ElectHER, Ibijoke Faborode, further said that the introduction of the bill was a significant milestone, adding that it would help the future of the country, if passed into law.
Faborode expressed enthusiasm at seeing the national assembly united in support of the bill, underscoring their dedication to a legislative agenda that promotes inclusivity.
To her, the bill represents a bold step toward breaking barriers that have historically excluded capable Nigerians from leadership roles.
“Independent candidacy doesn’t undermine political parties. Instead, it complements them by fostering a more inclusive and competitive democratic environment.
”Independent candidacy does not undermine political parties. Rather, it complements them by fostering a more inclusive and competitive democratic environment,” she argued.
The bill, according to her, includes: rigorous eligibility criteria to ensure only credible candidates with significant community support can run independently, maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, while empowering citizens.
The proponents of the bill highlighted the potential for the bill to deepen Nigeria’s democratic process.
Rotimi particularly added that the bill would remove dependency on political parties and empower citizens who might otherwise face barriers due to party politics or possible high costs of party nominations.
Many advocates of the bill believe that it could break the dominance of political parties in the electoral process by providing a platform for candidates with innovative ideas or strong grassroots support to emerge.
They cited the examples of some countries where independent candidacy had enriched political systems, offering voters more choices and encouraging accountability among elected officials.
However, opponents of the bill have raised concerns about how independent candidates would navigate Nigeria’s electoral framework.
Other issues raised include: campaign financing, voter education and ensuring compliance with electoral laws, which were cited as potential hurdles.
Some lawmakers also argued that allowing independent candidates could lead to an over-saturation of the electoral space, stressing that it would make it harder for voters to distinguish credible candidates from the opportunistic ones.
Part of their arguments was that the bill might inadvertently weaken political parties, which are essential for organising political ideas, stating that it could destabilise governance, particularly if the independent candidates lacked the institutional support from the parties.
For instance, while Rep. Isah Ambarura (APC-Sokoto) emphasises the importance of the bill in enhancing the country’s democratic evolution, Rep. Babatunde Yusuf (APC-Kogi) argued that the concept of independent candidacy might weaken party structures in Nigeria.
Yusuf expressed worries over the risk of sidelining political parties, which traditionally play critical roles in aggregating public interests.
On the other hand, Rep. Abdul-Majid Suleiman (APC-Bauchi) raised concerns about the potential for independent candidates to increase electoral disputes and fragmentations in governance due to the lack of unifying party framework.
Rep. Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau) also pointed out that the bill might create challenges in political accountability and representation, as independent candidates would not be answerable to any party structure.
However, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives has demonstrated institutional support for its consideration.
While not explicitly advocating for or against the bill, he said his leadership would to ensure that the proposed legislation progressed to the House Committee for further review.
Notwithstanding the opposing views of the lawmakers, the current 10th assembly may be etching its name in gold if the long-awaited independent candidacy bill is eventually passed into law, with its attendant potential of altering the country’s political landscape. (NANFeatures)
By Amina Samuel,Kaduna
In celebration of International Women’s Day 2025, the National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS), in collaboration with Travel RTT, has mentored hundreds of women and students from Kaduna Polytechnic (PADPOLY) and Kaduna State University (KASU).
The initiative, part of this year’s global theme, “Resilient Women, Thriving Future,” aims to empower women to overcome societal barriers and achieve success.
Speaking to journalists, Hajiya Amina Lawal, President of the Kaduna North Council of NCWS, emphasized that Nigeria’s future belongs to its resilient women.
She urged young women to embrace hard work and determination, regardless of the societal limitations placed on them.
“Nigerian women have faced numerous challenges, yet they continue to break barriers and achieve commendable heights.
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate their achievements while mentoring the next generation to stay focused and work hard,” she said.
Encouraging self-reliance, Lawal advised women to pursue their goals with dedication, adding that the NCWS is committed to mentoring individuals who show determination.
“Don’t wait for government jobs. Find something you are passionate about, learn from hardworking women, and strive to succeed,” she urged.
Supporting this call for resilience, Samira Farida, Founder of Travel RTT and a mentor at the event, praised Nigerian women for their courage amid economic and social challenges.
She highlighted the importance of networking and mentorship, particularly in travel and tourism, to unlock opportunities both within and outside Nigeria.
“There are untapped opportunities for women across various sectors. More women need mentorship to explore these possibilities and build a better future,” she stated.
Farida also called on the government to create more opportunities for women, ensuring their inclusion in national development efforts.
Also speaking at the event, Sahura Jibrin, Kaduna State Acting Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), reaffirmed the role of media in amplifying women’s achievements.
She stressed the need for continuous advocacy and reportage to highlight the contributions of Nigerian women.
“Nigeria has countless women with untapped potential. It is crucial for stakeholders to support and engage them in nation-building,” she said.
Plateau IGR hits N30b in 2024, as Mutfwang sets N52b target for 2025
The chairman, Plateau State Internal Revenue Service (PSIRS), Dr. Jim Pam Wayas, said the state raked in N31.14 billion in 2024, the first in the history of the state.
Pam said this is in contrast to the N25.8 billion made in 2023.
Speaking to reporters in his office on Friday, Pam said the service has also received a tall order from Governor Caleb Mutfwang to increase the revenue to N52 billion 2025.
He said the service is however starting on a good footing, as it already collected N3.3 billion in January compared to N1.6 billion in the corresponding period last year.
Pam said the service was able to achieve this through improved revenue collection by bringing more tax payers into the tax net and blocking leakages in the revenue system.
He said, “In 2023, we were able to jack the revenue to N25.8 billion from somewhere around N15.8 billion in the preceding year. But as at close of business last year, the revenue closed at N31.14 billion.
“And that’s the first time the Plateau State has hit the benchmark of above N30 billion in revenue generation. However, there’s hope that we need to start 2025 on a tall order because even the state government has given us a total revenue target of N52 billion in 2025.
“But we started 2025 on a strong footing. As at January, we collected about N3.3 billion, which is not even the highest that we ever collected in any given month, but I think compared to last year, by January, we did about N1.6 billion.
“That shows significant improvement in revenue generation.
Pam said though the state had witnessed an increase in internally generated revenue, it’s federally allocated revenue had for the past six months come with a minus, owing to foreign debts that the state had incurred in the past and fluctuations in rate of foreign exchange.
Mandate Secretary, FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, has said the new Bwari Women Skills Acquisition Centre will be a vital resource that will serve as a beacon of opportunity for countless women in Abuja.
The Mandate Secretary, represented by Jose Mudashiru, revealed this at the Commissioning Ceremony of the Helpline Social Support Initiative Women Skills Acquisition and Processing Centre. Barongoni Community, Bwari, Abuja.
She said the commissioning, which part of the International Women’s Day 2025 celebrations, presents an opportunity to show her committment to supporting initiatives that empower women through education and skills development.
“‘Skills acquisition is not merely about learning a trade; it is about fostering confidence, independence, and resilience. When women are equipped with skills, they gain the ability to support themselves and their families, break the cycle of poverty, and contribute to the economy”, the Secretary said.
Founder and President, Helpline Social Support Initiative, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, at the event, said the new centre, henceforth tagged ‘Garri Plaza’, is one of many such centers in all the six area councils of the FCT.
Represented by Jane Chinwe Williams, she said that empowering women is not just a moral obligation “it is a catalyst for social and economic progress. When we nurture the potential of women, we ultimately uplift families, communities, and entire nations” .
Dr. Jumai said the centre, comprising about 50 women, will be a sanctuary of learning and growth, equipped with the resources needed for our women to thrive, and where they will discover new skills, gain confidence, and prepare to contribute meaningfully to society.
In her remarks, Dr. (Mrs.) Rebecca Usman, who commissioned the center, said the skills centre represents a symbol of hope for women, and is a sanctuary where women can harness their skills and build sustainable livelihoods because women are the backbone of the community.
She said the process of producing garri involves purchasing cassava from the the market and leaving it in sacks for about two days or more, then the cassava is grinded in machine before it is fried and then properly packaged.
Representative of the Minister of Women Affairs at the occasion, Festus Bakpet, said the skills centre is a noble idea and is in tandem with the ministry of women affairs and the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration.
Wife of the Etsu of Bwari, Susan Danlami, who graced the occasion, commended the initiative and tenacity of the builders of the centre which she described as a platform for entrepreneurship and encouraged women to embrace the opportunity it offers and to support one another.
She said when women are equipped with skills they get ability to support themselves and their families, they break the circle of poverty and contribute to the economy, it is a transformative process that can lift entire communities.
Some of the over 25 women who were present at the commissioning of the skill centre, who also spoke, commended Helpline Social Support Initiative for their effort in establishing the centre and said they would contribute their best to see to its success.