Would let Nigerians contest elections as independents, without a political-party platform — one of the electoral-reform proposals among the 37 priority Sixth Alteration bills.
This is a bill, not a signed Act. It must clear every step below before becoming law.
Under the 1999 Constitution a candidate must be sponsored by a registered political party; there is no route to the ballot as an independent. This alteration would amend the relevant sections (including s.65, s.106, s.131 and s.177) to permit independent candidacy for legislative and executive offices. It is one of three electoral-reform proposals — alongside reform of State Independent Electoral Commissions and the creation of an Electoral Offences Commission — grouped in the 37 priority bills of the Sixth Alteration review. A version passed both chambers in the 9th Assembly (2023) but did not complete ratification; it has been revived in the current review. As a constitutional amendment it requires two-thirds passage in both chambers plus ratification by at least 24 state assemblies before assent.