The Organization for Community Civic Engagement today, earlier today requested that President Muhammadu Buhari assent the Electoral Act Amendment Bill as, the President is yet to give a nod on the bill and has been foot dragging and unjustifiably delaying on the bill.
While the move by the National Assembly to provide sanity and transparency in Nigeria’s electoral system by passing the Electoral Reform Bill 2021 remains a welcome development to many Nigerians as it promotes the use of direct primary as well as the electronic transmission of election results, appears to be one of such rare occasion in which the National Assembly, civil society organizations (CSOs) and the Nigerian citizens in general are very much on the same page.
Abdulrazaq Alkali the Executive Director of OCCEN, while addressing Journalists and Civic Organizations said “Unfortunately, with only two weeks left until the deadline, the President is yet to assent on the bill and has been foot dragging and unjustifiably delaying on the bill. This should be very worrying to every Nigerian because it appears that the President is listening and giving priority to some powerful and selfish categories of politicians who felt threatened that the return of candidate selection to citizens will depose them of their firm grip on political parties.
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“Sadly, this issue is taking a similar approach to how the president behaved pre 2019 election which made INEC to use the 2010 electoral act for the conduct of the election despite all the deficiencies in the law. The President need to put aside the selfish interest of a category of politicians and focus on what is in the best interest of Nigeria and its citizens.”
Mr Alkali also noted that direct primaries in Nigeria remained the most transparent mode of nominating candidates as it promotes return of power to the people, by creating a room for more citizen’s participation which results in in advancing an equitable level-playing ground for all aspirants as well as emergence of popular candidates.
He stated that While the current system of indirect primaries had handicapped women and youth from achieving political leadership with the “Not Too Young To Run bill” failing to bring any positive change, the direct primary approach will significantly reduce the marginalisation of women and youth in the political process It will also significantly solve the problem of God-fatherism and will promote intra party democracy.
According to him, “the indirect method of selecting candidates using delegates have been controlled by a few political actors who skewed the selection of delegates in favour of their supporters, and because of this unjust system, quality leadership and representative have been lacking in in every aspect of our public sphere.
“Recently, the NLC have written a letter to the Mr President dated November 23, 2021, titled ‘Please assent the Electoral Bill’ urging him to not to yield to pressure from state governors and other selfish politician, describing their opposition to the bill as a classic case of greed for political power, inordinate ambition, a ruthless quest for command and control in a democracy and mindless expansionist tendencies.” He explained.
He urged the President to demonstrate courage and leadership to upheld and protect the country’s democracy as it was understood that the president had written to INEC seeking advice regarding the Electoral Amendment Bill.
“As it stands, some members of the National Assembly (NASS) have vowed to veto the President if he declines signing the bill, a right the constitution have bestowed on them, and from all indications they do have the numbers to achieve that constitutionally, provided politics and lobbying does not distract them from doing the right thing. Mr Alkali concluded.
