Ahead of the 2023 general elections, concerned Nigerians have called on the leadership of National Assembly to ensure that the Electoral Reforms Bill is passed and passed on time to safe Nigeria from from imminent collapse and disintegration.
At a peaceful protest stagged at the gate of the National Assembly to draw the attention of federal lawmakers, the protesters accused leadership of National Assembly, specifically the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan and Speaker House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila of foot dragging to frustrate what they tagged as lifeline of the nation.
Speaking to reporters on the importance of the protest, one of the conveners, Ariyo Atoye said one of the promises made to Nigerians by President Muhammadu Buhari is to bequeath to the nation, electoral process that will be free, fair and credible. He said in 2023, Nigeria cannot afford to have elections that will be dotted with malpractices.
Ariyo stressed that Nigeria has more than enough issues at hand to contend with, so the country cannot afford to toy with the next general elections to which the passage of the electoral reforms bill is very important.
“Our brothers from South East are agitating for Biafra, our brothers from South West are calling for Odudua Republic, Boko Haram is affecting our people in the North, so the only assurance for a United Nigeria is free and fair election”.
The group said former President Goodluck Jonathan gave to the nation card reader, so it is incumbent on President Buhari to bring on board electronic transmission, which is one of the provisions of the electoral reform bill.
The placards carried by the protesters read: “Electoral reforms, or 2023 will not be different from what has been since 1999”, “Failure to conduct credible election will undermine unity of the country”, “Adopt electronic transmission of election result”, among others.
It would be recalled that penangle.com reported that the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, has on Monday 5th of July; 2023 said that presiding officers of both chambers of the National Assembly are not in any position to determine the outcome of amendments to the Electoral Bill under consideration.
Lawan made the remark during the inauguration and swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Commissioner and Commissioners of the Public Complaints Commission in Abuja, the Senate President disclosed that the upper chamber would consider the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill within the next two weeks upon presentation of a report by the Committee on INEC.