The House of Representatives (Reps) on Thursday rejected a proposal seeking to criminalise the inducement of delegates during political party primaries, voting down a clause that prescribed a two-year jail term for offenders.
The lawmakers voted against the provision during a clause-by-clause consideration of a report proposing amendments to the Electoral Act 2022, despite concerns over the persistent influence of money in party primaries across the country.
A clause in the report proposed that anyone who financially induces a delegate to sway the outcome of party primaries would face two years’ imprisonment, with no option of a fine.
Clause 89(4) of the amendment report states: “A person that financially or materially induces a delegate for the purpose of influencing the outcome of the party primaries, congresses and conventions commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment of two years without an option of fine”.
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But legislators unanimously voted against it when Benjamin Kalu, the presiding officer, called for a voice vote.
Inducement of delegates, in which aspirants often offer cash or material benefits to influence votes at congresses and conventions, is a recurring feature of party primaries in Nigeria.
The practice is primarily driven by the delegate-based primary system, which concentrates power in the hands of a small group of party members. #Reps
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