President Muhammadu Buhari has now signed the electoral act amendment bill into law.
The signing ceremony was held at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) chamber in the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Speaker of the house of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Kayode Fayemi were among the dignitaries present at the ceremony.
The legislation was transmitted to the President on January 31 after both chambers of the national assembly had reworked it.
Buhari had initially rejected the bill after the national assembly made direct primary compulsory for political parties in the country.
The President said the provision “violates the spirit of democracy”.
It was on that basis the senate and house of representatives reworked the bill to provide for indirect and direct primary, as well as consensus candidates.
Parties are now at liberty to use any of the three aforementioned options to elect their candidates for any election that will be organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Electronic transmission of election results is part of the new provisions in the bill.
