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Direct primaries: CSOs react to Buhari’s letter to INEC chair, say bill should be signed

What Yakubu said on bill Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) yesterday reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter to the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.…

  • What Yakubu said on bill

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) yesterday reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter to the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, requesting advice over the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021.

The president, in the letter, sought comments of the INEC boss on the adoption of direct primary as sole option for parties to produce candidates for elections, among other key issues ahead of 2023 general elections.

Critical stakeholders, including the governors and federal lawmakers, are divided over the matter: while some governors are against it, the federal lawmakers are for it.

The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, said he could not comment on such correspondence between Mr. President and the INEC chairman.

He, however, said INEC as a responsible organisation would always discharge its constitutional responsibilities.

The Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Coordinator, Transparency International (TI) in Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said the advice being sought by the president must not truncate the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

“The president should understand that Nigerians have spoken in favour of the Electoral Act Amendment that is before him. Nigerians trooped out to demand that those amendments be made and the legislators ensured that their demands are put in place.

“Although there is nothing wrong for the president to seek further advice, we believe that the president should show Nigerians that he cares about their demands and he cares about strengthening the electoral system of the country. 

“Therefore, the advice he is seeking should not truncate the wishes and aspirations of the Nigerian people,” he said.

Also speaking, the executive director, Citizen Advocacy for Social and Economic Right (CASER), Barrister Frank Tietie, said the president does not have option, even though he has the legal right to refuse assent, than to sign it.

However, Civil Society Partners on Electoral Reform has hailed the president for seeking the comments of the electoral body.

The Executive Director, Adopt A Goal for Development Initiative, Ariyo-Dare Atoye, who spoke on behalf of others, including Centre for Liberty, Raising New Voices, Youth and Students Advocates for Development Initiative (YSAD), NESSACTION, the Nigerian Alliance, the Art and Civics Table and Speak Out Africa Initiative, urged INEC to be guided by the constitution.

 What INEC chair said on bill

It could be recalled that the INEC chairman had previously said the electoral body would ensure implementation of direct primary as passed by the National Assembly as soon as it is assented to by President Buhari.

The INEC boss, at an interactive meeting with senior journalists in Lagos last week, said he had the political will to implement any law that would advance democracy in Nigeria.

Yakubu said: “Since it emerged that the direct primary clause was included in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, many of you have been asking the commission for its position. But the issue is not about our position, but the process. 

“In the exercise of its constitutional power, the National Assembly has passed the bill into law awaiting the President’s assent. Once the process is concluded, the bill becomes law and every person and authority in Nigeria, including the commission, must obey.

“The commission will give expeditious consideration to the law, including the detailed regulations and guidelines for its implementation where necessary.”

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