By Ahmed Yanusu
Uncertainty surrounds the 2027 general elections as delays in the review of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria threaten the introduction of reserved parliamentary seats for women and the legalisation of independent candidacy.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled party primaries from April 23 to May 30, raising concerns that the constitution alteration bills may not be concluded in time to implement these reforms.
The proposed Reserved Seats for Women Bill seeks to allocate six Senate seats, 37 House of Representatives seats, and three state assembly seats per senatorial zone exclusively for women to address their underrepresentation in legislative bodies.
Similarly, the Independent Candidacy Bill aims to create a framework allowing Nigerians unaffiliated with political parties to contest elections.
Stakeholders, including Omorede Osifo of the All Progressives Congress and Osasu Igbinedion-Ogwuche of TOS Foundation, have urged the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the bills to ensure meaningful participation of women and independent candidates in the next electoral cycle.
The Akin Rotimi, House Committee Chairman on Media and Public Affairs, stated that the bills will require subsidiary legislation to detail implementation procedures, which will be coordinated by INEC once the constitutional amendments are passed.
