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NLC backs direct primaries

Wabba NLC

*urges Buhari to sign Electoral Amendment Bill

Ukpono Ukpong

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to assent to the recently transmitted Electoral Amendment bill from the National Assembly.

In letter addressed to Buhari, the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, appealed for the President’s support especially in the matter of direct primaries and the mainstreaming of technology in electoral law to promote a more transparent and credible electioneering process in Nigeria.

He called on the President not to give in to the pressure being brought to bear on him by State Governors across party lines and other selfish interest groups and individuals to do otherwise.

“Your Excellency, in view of the recent passage of the 2021 Electoral Amendment Bill by the two chambers of the National Assembly, we write to strongly urge and request you to support and assent to the recently transmitted Electoral Amendment bill from the National Assembly, especially in the matter of direct primaries and the mainstreaming of technology in our electoral law to promote a more transparent and credible electioneering process in Nigeria.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress notes that the 2021 Electoral Amendment bill is one of the most progressive bills to emanate from the National Assembly in recent times. We commend the bill as it is a product of thoughtfulness, courage, wisdom and patriotism.

“We are not unaware of the tremendous pressure being brought to bear on you by State Governors across party lines and other selfish interest groups and individuals to do otherwise.

This pressure, we are afraid to say, represents a classic case of greed for political power, inordinate ambition, a ruthless quest for command and control in a democracy, mindless expansionist tendencies and a further proof of the iron cast will of a few persons among us to erode time-tested democratic values and to subvert our democratic institutions.

“At the moment, it is trite knowledge that governors, against all decent norms, control the state legislatures, judiciary, SIEC, and local governments; in spite of your heroic effort to free them. Given their strangle hold on SIEC and their intolerance for opposition, bestowing upon them the power to determine who goes to the National Assembly will amount to taking undue chances with our democracy.”

Wabba however, called on President Buhari to once again demonstrate courage, leadership as well as protect the country’s democracy by assenting to the electoral bill.

“In light of this dark reality, we find it necessary for Your Excellency to once again demonstrate courage, leadership as well as protect our democracy. History beckons upon you as the nation and the international community wait for you with bated breath. We recall instances in the past when you stood up to be counted. Nothing should change that now, not even the possible threat of blackmail.

“At the risk of stating the obvious, we do earnestly believe that the process of direct primaries will free up and deepen the democratic space, unmask and strip dictators of their powers, inspire confidence in honest and patriotic Nigerians to run for elections and not only the favoured godsons and goddaughters!”

In a separate statement, the NLC President had said that in order to further safeguard the right of Nigerians to freely choose their leaders at both political party level and during general elections without being subjected to the obscene pressure of financial lure, the Congress recommends that the National Assembly should expeditiously consider developing a bill for the establishment of Electoral Offences Commission to expedite the prosecution of politicians and their agents who indulge in vote for cash, election rigging and violence.

“On the full mainstreaming of the use of technology in our electoral law, we urge all stakeholders especially INEC to continue to constructively engage with the Nigerian people to ensure that the lessons from recent and remote deployment of technology during elections are not lost.

“Particularly, we call for confidence building measures by the INEC particularly through voter education and sensitization.

“It is also important that the security of the software and hardware components of technology to be deployed for elections should be well scrutinized and reviewed by all stakeholders. This is to guard against significant failures and to facilitate public ownership.” Wabba said.

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Ihesiulo Grace

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