Electoral Amendment Bill: Nigeria’s democratic process in jeopardy says CUPP

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari for withholding assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill.

The CUPP in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere on Tuesday said Buhari’s refusal to sign the bill is an attempt to truncate the 2019 general election and put Nigeria’s democratic process in jeopardy.

The body viewed the deliberate last minute rejection of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari led APC government as a clear indication that President Buhari and the APC want to destroy the chances of credible, free and fair election in Nigeria simply because they are afraid of losing the 2019 general election.

“Nigerians will recall that we had raised alarm following credible information that the President was under immense pressure from leaders of the APC not to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. Buhari & APC are scared of the compulsory use of card readers for accreditation & transmission of election results which the new electoral law provides for.

We are sad to report that the President has succumbed to the pressure and has agreed with the leadership of his Party that the amendment would not be signed.

“The Osun Governorship election is just a few days away and we have been told there is nothing that could have made the President to sign the Amended Electoral Act which will open the window for the people of Osun to vote out the abysmally performing government of APC.

The undue advantage of winning Osun which has a close relation of the National Leader of the APC as the Party’s candidate and the mortal fear of losing the Presidential election next year has made the President so desperate and this is very dangerous for our country and democracy.

All lovers of democracy are hereby put on notice that President Buhari and the APC have concluded plans to massively rig the 22nd September, Osun Governorship election through snatching of result sheets, vote buying and manipulation of the entire process”, he said.

The CUPP urged the National Assembly to explore the use of a joint sitting whenever they resume from recess to handle the INEC budget Issue and Electoral Act Amendment Bill observations of the President and send the clean copy back to him very quickly so that he will have no more excuses to truncate our desire for credible elections come 2019.