Federal lawmakers on the platform of the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party have thrown their weight behind resolutions of the governors from the southern part of the country.
The Southern Governors Forum in their resolutions read by the Ondo State Governor and Chairman of the Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu at the end of their meeting held in Lagos, raised the alarm over an attempt to tinker with a report of the Joint Committee of the National Assembly on the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
While the governors cautioned against the removal of the clause on electronic transmission of results, they also maintained that the provision of 5% for the Oil Producing Communities as proposed in the Host Communities Trust Fund should not be reduced to 3%.
The PDP joint caucus in its resolutions read by Minority Leader and Chairman of the PDP Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the lawmakers had since adopted the resolutions of the Southern Governors Forum.
On the electronic transmission of results, the PDP Caucus dropped the hint of a show down with the leadership of the National Assembly, if the report of its Joint Committee on INEC was tinkered with.
“The Joint PDP caucus is already taking very strong and uncompromising steps to ensure that the provision guaranteeing the electronic transmission of result is not tampered with in any form whatsoever.”
The Caucus further noted that “electronic transmission of results is the only way to eliminate malpractice and manipulations associated with the manual collation of results, including alteration, switching and disappearance of election materials while on transit to various collation centres.”
The resolutions read in part: “After due consideration and extensive deliberations on political and security situation in the country, the Joint PDP National Assembly unanimously upholds the resolution of the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) in vehemently rejecting the clandestine moves to manipulate and alter the Electoral Act to remove the electronic transmission results from the law.
“Such furtive venture to tamper with a critical component of transparency and credibility of the electoral process is an unpatriotic and mischievous attempt to subvert our democratic process, institutionalize rigging, bastardize and frustrate genuine efforts towards credible elections in our country.
“Electronic transmission of results is the only way to eliminate malpractice and manipulations associated with a manual collation of results, including alteration, switching and disappearance of election materials while on transit to various collation centres.
“The Joint PDP caucus is already taking very strong and uncompromising steps to ensure that the provision guaranteeing the electronic transmission of result is not tampered with in any form whatsoever.
“On security, the Joint PDP Caucus reaffirm our unwavering support for the establishment of state police as well as other measure adopted by the governors to ensure the security of lives and property in the respective states, including those curtailing unauthorized movements and occupation of forest areas.
“We also affirm the demands by State governors, that as Chief Security Officers in the states, they must be duly informed before any security institution undertakes any operation in their states.
“The Joint PDP Caucus, also lends full support to the demand by our governors that deductions from the Federation Account for the Nigeria Police Security Trust Fund should be distributed among the states and Federal Government to combat security challenges.
“These resolutions by the governors, regarding security does not offend but rather reinforce genuine efforts towards guaranteeing adequate security of lives and property given the current situation in our country as a federation.
“We call on governors, lawmakers and critical stakeholders from other regions to support these patriotic initiatives of the Southern Governors’ Forum in the interest of the security of lives and property in our dear nation.
“The Joint Caucus agrees with the position of the Governors in rejecting the 3% percentage of share of the oil revenue to the host community as passed by the Senate and supporting the 5% as passed by the House of Representatives.
“As a Joint Caucus, we have set up very strong machinery to ensure that, in the interest of justice and fairness, the percentage of share of the oil revenue to the host community does not fall below expectation.
“The Joint PDP Caucus commends the Southern Governors’ Forum for the continued patriotic stand in always proffering solutions on critical issues boarding on the security, stability, as well as economic and political well-being of our dear nation at all time.”
The Joint Caucus was however silent on the agitation for power shift to the South as canvassed by the governors.
Asked by newsmen, House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu said the pressing challenges confronting the nation were insecurity, unemployment and lack of quality education for Nigeria’s teeming youths.
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