Democratic developments are at the heart of political debates in Nigeria, where a bill that would allow independent candidates to run for office without the support of a political party is attracting attention.
Brought forward by the Speaker of the House, MP Akintunde Rotimi (APC-Ekiti), the initiative aims to push the boundaries of political participation in the country. In concrete terms, the bill proposes to allow individuals to run for office without party affiliation.
In practical terms, the bill stipulates that an independent presidential candidate must obtain verified signatures from at least 10% of registered voters in at least two-thirds of all states in the federation. These signatures will be subject to verification by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and a registered voter will be able to support only one independent candidate for any office.
In the interest of inclusiveness, the bill underlines that any individual eligible to vote or contest an election to the State Assembly will be entitled to stand as a candidate. An independent candidate will also need to obtain verified signatures of at least 10% of the registered voters in at least two-thirds of the state’s constituency.
According to Rotimi, the objective of the bill is to further democratize the political space and encourage citizen participation. He points out that many Nigerians do not have the opportunity to be endorsed by political parties and that this law would open up new avenues for them to run for elected office.
On her part, the Managing Director of Elect Her, Mrs. Joke Faborode, says her organization is providing technical support to the proposal. This collaboration is in line with the sponsor’s motto of “leaving no one behind,” consistent with the goal of Elect Her.
By encouraging the emergence of independent candidates, this initiative could help diversify the political landscape and give a voice to those who feel excluded from traditional power structures. The adoption of this law could thus strengthen democracy in Nigeria by encouraging greater citizen participation and promoting the plurality of ideas and visions within the country’s political sphere.