Sign re-amended Electoral Bill into law now – CNPP urges Buhari

By Christiana Ekpa

Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly assent to the re-amended Electoral Bill passed by the National Assembly, given that the lawmakers have removed the contentious clause imposing compulsory direct primary elections on political parties.

President Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare, had, on Monday, confirmed the transmission of the re-amended bill to the President.

He had explained that the transmission of the bill to the President was in line with the provisions of Section 58 (3) of the 1999 Constitution and the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2 LFN 2004.

However, in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the CNPP said “nothing should be a stumbling block to the assent of the bill by Mr. President as the National Assembly has done his bidding.

“Nigerian democracy is at the crossroads and improving our electoral system is a must for the survival of the country itself.

“The best legacy Mr. President can leave at this time of our national life is to bequeath on the country transparent elections, of which assent to the Electoral Act Amendment is critical.

“We hereby join other well-meaning Nigerians to call on Mr. President to immediately sign the re-amended Electoral Bill in demonstration of a genuine commitment to electoral reform as both a victim of electoral manipulation and a beneficiary of an improved electoral system under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2015.

“Therefore, we urge Mr. President to ensure that he is on the right side of history and be referenced as electoral reform ambassador at the end of his tenure”, the CNPP said.