The leadership of the House of Representatives, on Thursday, dismissed a report that President Muhammadu Buhari has returned the Electoral bill, 2021 to the National Assembly.
Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon Benjamin Kalu, who confirmed this in Abuja, argued that the Direct Primaries adopted by the House and National Assembly was not imposed on other minority parties.
He said: “APC is not insisting on that (direct primaries), we are true disciples of democracy and we are trying to set our democracy from where it is to where it ought to be and there are mechanisms that must be in place.
“There are legislations that must be in place to be able to move our aspiration in advancing our democracy to become one of the best amongst the comity of nations and piece of legislation to back that up is very important.”
While responding to questions on the alleged rejection of the Electoral Bill, 2021 by President Buhari, the House Spokesman said: “You are not the only one raising this issue. I’ve been confronted by these left, right and centre from the date that publication came out till now, but I want to tell this House (you) that if Mr President, send a communication to the House of Representative, the Spokesperson of the House of Representative should be one of the first to know and I can tell you with every amount of audacity that there is no communication from Mr President to that effect.
“So any insinuation is the figment of the imagination of those who are trying to increase their lobbying skills to weaken the hearts of so many people that believe in this advocacy to begin to look the other way thinking Mr President has turned the other way.
“The point must be made, in lobbying, so many tools are employed. Remember not too long ago, it was in the public parlance that the cause of running the direct primary was so much.
“We agree. Democracy is expensive. But the question you should ask yourself is why was that thrown up beyond other issues. It was a lobbying skill. Let his Nation cry that it is wasteful legislation. Let the nation see the cost ineffectiveness of it.
“But if you were a disciple of democracy like I am and so many members of the parliament you will believe that democracy in itself is not cheap. If it was cheap we would not be having three arms of government.
“Because of that, will the question become? Do we drop democracy because it’s not cheap. The answer is no because of the product they want that comes with democracy nation-building, national development and all the rest of them. So we cannot sacrifice the beauty of democracy and what it brings on the altar of cost.
“It might be costly but to democracy. It is not expensive. Always differentiate the two. But it is costly. Does not mean that it is expensive. It is only expensive when the words of what the reward will bring towards,” Hon. Kalu stressed.
In a related development, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations operating in Nigeria described the news of Buhari’s rejection as a hatchet job.
The CSOs position was contained in a statement jointly issued by Ariyo-Dare Atoye, Executive Director
Adopt A Goal for Development Initiative; Jude Feranmi, the Convener, Raising New Voices Initiative and Kenneth Eze, Executive Director, Speak Out Africa Initiative.
“Fellow Nigerians, we woke up this morning to the fake news headline by The Sun Newspapers which read ‘Buhari Rejects Electoral Bill’. This hatchet job carried out by some crooked persons to misinform Nigerians and mislead the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is shameless and unfortunate.
“In an era where fake news continues to harm our society, cause chaos and hamper democracy, we are shocked that The Editorial Management of The Sun newspapers and some online news outlets would render their reputation and their platform to be used for this shoddy job.
“We can authoritatively confirm that Mr President has not forwarded any letter rejecting the Electoral Amendment Bill to the National Assembly. The interview granted by one of the APC governors published as news and stating that Mr President has rejected the bill based on the phantom N500 billion costs of logistics for monitoring the direct primaries of political parties is a barefaced lie.
“While it is known to the people that some politicians are habitual liars to the public, have no integrity whatsoever and do not care about the public trust for the office which they occupy even when they attain such positions crookedly, an issue as dear to the heart of the Nigerian people as the Electoral Amendment Bill will not be allowed to be derailed by these kinds of politicians.
“We want Nigerians to ask Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State, and Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina what they knew about this plot using the Daily Sun. We hope the President will be mindful of his integrity and who to associate with.
“We reiterate again that Mr President promised on several occasions when he spoke about the Electoral Bill that he would sign an Electoral Amendment Bill sent to him by the National Assembly and in time for the elections. Mr President also promised that he would accord INEC all that they need to ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in the next general elections.
“For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, the Nigerian people stand behind and support in whole this amendment bill sent by the National Assembly.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which Mr President wrote to asking for their opinion about the bill has written back to say that they support the bill and the President should not hesitate in assenting to the bill. Only devious politicians who would not benefit from the electoral and political reforms that this bill would bring to the country are against this bill.
“Going forward, we would like to make the following demands: That Mr President immediately assents to the Electoral Amendment Bill to fill up this national vacuum that the delay in signing the bill is causing. Nigerians in the rural areas who are not privy to national events would continue to be misled by devious politicians and crooked newspaper editors should this vacuum continue to exist.
“That Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, the Press Council, Nigerian Guild of Editors and the National Union of Journalists should investigate immediately the online blogs and The Sun newspaper for this barefaced lie presented to the people as news, not just to mislead the Nigerian public but also misrepresent the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“In conclusion, Mr President and the Nigerian people must note that the Electoral Amendment Bill is the most reform-minded legislation for the most important part of our democratic journey since the 4th republic began, our elections.
“Thus, the people must stand strongly behind it, Mr President must find the courage to do the right thing by signing it into law and refuse to be distracted. The electoral umpire must find the boldness to execute and implement this law when it has been passed.
“If we do all of this and more, our country will continue on its journey towards prosperity for all when the leaders genuinely chosen by the people and given the people’s mandate emerge.
“Lastly, we urge the President to invite representatives of CSOs, Youth groups and Women groups to the Electoral Bill signing ceremony.”
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