President Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill with immediate effect.
The Nigeria Civil Society Coalition made the call in a statement jointly signed by the coordinator of the group, Comrade Okoli Adams and the Secretary of the group, Dr Abdul Yahaya and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.
The group noted that the Electoral Act disenfranchises many members of political parties on who becomes the candidate of their party in the forthcoming election hence the needs to sign the amendment.
The statement reads “The Nigerian Civil Society views the current Electoral Act that favours elections of delegates to vote at the convention, congress or meetings of political parties that adopt the system of indirect primaries for the choice of their candidates, as not only anti-democratic but antithetical to the spirit of participatory democracy, and spells doom and catastrophe for the democratic destiny and future of Nigeria.
“It disfranchises voters and Nigerians (particularly statutory delegates who are former office holders) from participating in the electoral process.
“Democracy (as known the world over) is the Government of the people, by the people and for the people, and hence the amendment by the Federal Lawmakers is clearly in tandem with these first principles.
“With the 30 day constitutionally guaranteed window within which to assent or withhold consent to the Amended Electoral Act expiring, we urge on Mr. President to save the country’s future by assenting to the Electoral Act 2022 Amendment Bill before him, prior to commencement of party primaries.
“Furthermore, the Nigerian Civil Society Coalition shall review and communicate her position on the matter to Civil Society Organizations across the country for onward actions in order to save our democracy.
God bless Nigeria”.