The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and CivilSocietyPartnerson Electoral Reform, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore the pressure from some state governors and pass into law, the 2021 Electoral Act Amendment Bill transmitted by the National Assembly to him for assent.
Civil Society Partners on Electoral Reform have also urged state governors to desist from obstructing the popular will of Nigerians on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill and allow the President take its decision in favour of the citizenry.
The NLC in a letter written to President Buhari dated November 23, 2021 and signed by President Ayuba Wabba, described the 2021 Electoral Amendment bill as one of the most progressive bills to emanate from the National Assembly in recent times, adding that it was a product of thoughtfulness, courage, wisdom and patriotism.
According to Congress, the matter of direct primaries and the mainstreaming of technology in the electoral law to promote a more transparent and credible electioneering process in Nigeria were some of the amendments in the Bill demanding the President’s support and assent.
The letter partly reads: “We are not unaware of the tremendous pressure being brought to bear on you by state governors across party lines and other selfish interest groups and individuals to do otherwise.”
“This pressure, we are afraid to say, represents a classic case of greed for political power, inordinate ambition, a ruthless quest for command and control in a democracy, mindless expansionist tendencies and a further proof of the iron cast will of a few persons among us to erode time-tested democratic values and to subvert our democratic institutions.