CSOs urge Buhari to sign it, saying Govs oppose direct primaries to keep party power
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Muhammadu Buhari has written to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Mahmoud Yakubu and federal Attorney General Abubakar Malami for advice on the Electoral Amendment Bill, an unnecessary move.
He is looking for an excuse to pander to selfish Governors who oppose direct primaries mandated in the bill passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly (NASS), which civil society organisations (CSOs) have urged him to sign into law.
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba has also asked Buhari to sign the bill into law.
Buhari is playing the ostrich – as usual – but by law, he cannot ignore the collective decision of the NASS in the interest of Nigerians and reject the bill on the advice of individuals such as Yakubu and Malami who can easily be bought by Governors.
Governors want indirect primaries in order to hand pick delegates to a party’s national convention where election candidates are chosen. It enables moneybags to bribe delegates and prevents the electorate from choosing their representatives.
Both Senate President Ahmed Lawan and House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila say they champion direct primaries both to protect lawmakers from the grip of Governors and to give youths wider participation in the electoral process.
The bill was transmitted to the President on November 19 and, by law, he has until December 19 to sign or veto it and send it back to the NASS.
Lawmakers have threatened to override his veto and pass the bill into law with a two-thirds majority each in the Senate and the House of Representatives. They may not care about voters. But keeping their jobs depends on passing the bill into law.
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CSOs press Buhari to sign bill into law
CSOs on electoral reform argue that the position of Governors is “unpopular and narrow” and simply want to override the public interest and dictate to Buhari.
A statement jointly issued by Adopt A Goal for Development Initiative, Centre for Liberty, Raising New Voices, Youth and Students Advocates for Development Initiative, The Nigerian Alliance, The Art and Civics Table, and Speak Out Africa Initiative urged Buhari to sign the bill.
The coalition said since the President cannot dictate to Governors what to do with bills passed at the state level, it is also his prerogative to sign into law the Electoral Bill passed by the NASS based on popular demand, per The PUNCH.
The CSOs urged Governors not to obstruct the popular will of Nigerians and should instead rebuild their parties, ensure internal party reform, digitise membership registration and the payment of dues.
“The position of some of our governors on the new Electoral Act Amendment Bill is unpopular and narrow, and it conflicts with the public interest of Nigerians,” the statement said.
“Our governors should not serve as obstacles or constitute an impediment to the signing of the new Electoral Bill because it has substantially met the expectations of Nigerians.
“It is the prerogative of Mr. President to sign the bill and make history, and it is not in the public interest for the governors to ask him not to sign it.
“The President has a glorious opportunity to take a popular action, etch his name in gold and side with the people by signing the bill into law.”
Buhari seeks advice from Yakubu, Malami
“We received a letter from the President last week regarding INEC’s position on the Electoral Act amendment especially as regards the controversial direct primaries which many governors have kicked against.
“We are supposed to respond within seven days. I know that a response will be sent to the President anytime from now,” a top INEC source told The PUNCH.
When asked if the INEC would endorse direct primaries, the source said the commission would only indicate its position on the merits and demerits of the bill and let Buhari decide.
Another INEC official said lawmakers never discussed direct primaries with the commission but only electronic transmission of results and other issues.
His words: “During the amendment of the Electoral Act, we met with the National Assembly but the issue of direct primary was never discussed.
“We discussed electronic transmission of results, electronic voting, Diaspora voting and other issues. It was at the point of the adoption of the report that the direct primary was added to the bill.
“So, INEC was never given a chance to present its position. What the President has done now is to get our position on the matter. The truth is that if INEC cannot undertake the direct primaries, it will make the law useless.”
Buhari’s Media Assistant Garba Shehu said: “The President will consult with those who he believes are important to his decision and who can advise him on the Electoral Act.
“And he will meet them. But I cannot draw boundaries or name specifics and say this is who the President might meet. He ultimately decides.”
NLC urges Buhari to sign bill into law
A letter Wabba wrote to Buhari on November 23, published by The PUNCH, described the Electoral Amendment Bill as one of the most progressive bills and a product of thoughtfulness from the NASS in recent times.
He urged Buhari not to yield to the pressure from Governors and other groups, describing their opposition to direct primaries as “a classic case of greed for political power.”
The letter adds: “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 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 (State Independent Electoral Commission) and local governments; in spite of your heroic effort to free them.
“Given their stranglehold on SIEC and their intolerance for the opposition, bestowing upon them the power to determine who goes to the National Assembly will amount to taking undue chances with our democracy.”
The NLC implored Buhari to demonstrate courage and leadership as well as protect Nigeria’s democracy by signing the bill into law.