2019: Reps amend electoral act, say presidential poll should hold last

The house of representatives has amended the electoral act, 2010.

The lawmakers proposed that presidential election should be held last after state governorship and house of assembly elections.

The first election to be conducted, in the new order, would be that of the national assembly.

The amendment followed the adoption of the report of the committee on electoral matters chaired by Aisha Dukku, from Gombe state.

It will, however, need to be assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari before it takes effect.

The lawmakers also proposed that against the 90 days notice for candidates to withdraw from participating in any elective position before the election date, there should be a notice of 30 days for such withdrawal.

The amendment comes barely a month after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the timetable for the 2019 general elections.

In the INEC timetable, the presidential and national assembly elections are billed to hold first, on February 16.

It will then be followed by the governorship and states’ house of assembly election, to be held on March 2.