Ex-Minister Urges Presidency to Sign Amended Electoral Act

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Former Minister of State, Education Prof. Jerry Agada has called on the Presidency to sign into law the amended Electoral Act as passed by the National Assembly to strengthen the nation’s Electoral system.
Prof. Agada made the call yesterday in a chat with Peoplesdaily while commenting on the recent Supreme Court Judgement that validated Governor Samuel Ortom’s election.
He noted that if the amendment is signed, it would make for credible election in the future.
According to him, the judgment by the judiciary has been lopsided even as he questioned the rational for the Supreme Court Judge on Imo State, noting that it based merely on technicalities.
“No matter the explanation given by the Supreme Court in the Imo State case, I won’t accept it. I have always looked at the judiciary as the last hope of the people, a place where truth and logic always prevailed. But there seem to be too much technicalities. Let them not allow themselves to be used as pun in the political chess board. They should allow good reasoning prevail and let the will of the people be done at all times. I had nursed fears after the judgment but they dispersed my fears by delivering a sound judgment for Governor Samuel Ortom. It is a well-deserved victory that proved his (Ortom) reelection was overwhelmingly given to him by the Benue people”, Prof. Agada said.
Also, commenting on the security situation in the country, the Chairman, Benue State Civil Service Commission blamed this on failure of government to secure lives and property of the people which has led to the formation of regional security outfit like Amotekun.
“There is lackadaisical approach by the Federal Government to secure the lives and property of the people. The security agencies too have failed to live up to their responsibilities and so, the people cannot sit down and watch their lives been endangered by criminals. The regional security arrangement is meant to check total criminal activity and I urge the North Central to also, establish its own outfit since they are more endangered region”, the erstwhile Minister advised.