A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer Mr Femi Falana said the refusal of the President Muhammadu Buhari to approve the Electoral Amendment Bill would make it difficult for Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct credible elections in 2023 and thereafter.
Falana in a statement on Tuesday called on the National Assembly to invoke the provision of section 58 (5) of the Constitution and pass the Bill into law by the resolution of two-thirds majority of the members.
He also said that the reasons adduced by the President for the rejection of the Electoral Amendment Bill was grossly misleading.
“The challenge before the National Assembly is to invoke the provision of section 58 (5) of the Constitution to pass the Bill into law by the resolution of two thirds majority of the members.
Having rejected to assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill in 2018 and 2021, Buhari has confirmed beyond any shadow of doubt that his administration will not allow the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct credible elections in 2023 and thereafter.
That is going to be the tragic legacy of the President and the ruling party that were campaigning for electoral reforms before the 2015general elections.
“With respect, direct primary is inconsonance with section 223 of the Constitution which has imposed a duty on political parties to elect their officers through democratic elections. There is no provision in the Constitution for imposition of candidates by moneybags through indirect primaries.
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“The INEC has submitted a bill of N305bn for the entire 2023 general elections. So who conjured the figure of N500 billion for the primaries to give the impression that it is an expensive venture?
In any case, since electronic voting had been adopted by the National Assembly it was going to be used for both primary and general elections. So the cost would have been significantly reduced.
The fear of insecurity is a red herring in that political parties have continued to hold huge rallies even in defiance of COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the Federal Government.”
