Professor Paul Sunday Nnamchi, representing Enugu East/Isi Uzo Federal Constituency in the 10th House of Representatives, has expressed optimism that the bill allowing independent candidates to run in elections will significantly deepen Nigeria’s democracy.
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Speaking on Nigerian Television Authority’s (NTA) “Nigeria Today” program on Friday night, Prof. Nnamchi emphasized that the bill will provide opportunities for individuals unaffiliated with any political party to participate in elections. He noted that independent candidacy is feasible, citing instances where individuals are elected unopposed despite the current system only allowing political parties to sponsor candidates.
Prof. Nnamchi addressed concerns about the timing and financial demands of independent candidacy, stressing that focus should not be limited to high-profile positions like the presidency and governorships. Instead, he suggested that independent candidates could thrive in local government elections, such as counselorship and chairmanship positions, due to their popularity and pedigree.
“The independent candidate is doable… at the counselorship and chairmanship elections, it can work because there are people who don’t need to belong to political parties to win at those levels,” Prof. Nnamchi explained. He also highlighted the potential benefits for marginalized groups, noting that “there are sections within some areas that are perpetually marginalized by those who have hijacked the political parties who will find space to contest for election if the Bill is eventually passed.”
Prof. Nnamchi emphasized that democracy is dynamic and that people should not be afraid of change. “I believe it will work. It will also reduce intra-party feuds and the arrogance of party leaders who often threaten prospective candidates with denial of nominations,” he added.
The National Assembly has transmitted the Independent Candidacy Bill to the President for assent, which requires independent candidates to obtain verified signatures from at least 20% of registered voters from each state to contest presidential elections.