The Nigerian Senate is set to amend section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022 to ban same-faith tickets in future presidential elections.?
?At a press conference at the National Assembly (NASS) yesterday, Adeyemi, who came with his supporters singing Islamic and Christian songs, said he is a Christian and supports the Tinubu/Shettima ticket not because they are in the same APC, but that under their leadership, “no tribe will be subdued”.?
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Adeyemi, who acknowledged the concern raised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket, said the organization made some cogent observations, adding that “there have been oversights in key appointments in the past, which tends to keep the Christians at a disadvantage and this has caused apprehension amongst us.”?
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The lawmaker said the diversity of Nigeria should be balanced, adding that “for the purposes of unity, we must balance up our diversity to a large extent. And it is in view of this that I am making some proposals. I have had discussions with the leadership of the Senate, my party leadership, and a good number of senators.?
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“The solution I hereby propose, in order not to find ourselves in a similar situation in the future, is that the Electoral Act be amended as follows: the amendment of Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022 by inserting a new subsection (3) that no political party shall nominate candidates of the same religion as presidential candidates or vice-presidential candidates after this dispensation.?
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The lawmaker said the Senate made “a major oversight” during the amendment of the Electoral Act.?
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On his support for Tinubu and Shettima, Adeyemi said, “I have had the privilege of knowing the candidates personally before now, and my support for them as individuals is not based on the fact that they are members of the APC or because they are Muslims as I am a Christian myself.?
Source: Guardian