The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has joined its voice to the call on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021, saying such would represent the most significant legacy of his presidency.
CDD, a pro-democracy, policy, and research think tank, said the proposals in the Electoral Bill 2021 will truly improve the country’s electoral system and the political party’s candidate selection process.
In a statement, CDD noted that with the successful integration of technology into the electoral process, a legal backing for electronic voting and transmission of election results will further affirm President Buhari’s commitment to improving Nigeria’s election.
The statement signed by its Director, Idayat Hassan, said the Centre believe that the next critical step that must be taken is for the assenting into law the Electoral Bill 2021, particularly as we head to two off-cycle elections in Ekiti and Osun States in 2022 and the 2023 general election.
The Senate had on October 13, 2021, re-amended certain aspects of the Electoral (Amendment) Bill contained in Clauses 43, 52, 63, and 87, respectively.
The re-amendment to the clauses followed a motion for re-committal moved by Senator Yahaya Abdullahi.
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In all, 21 clauses were harmonized, including the contentious clause 52; which makes provision for Electronic Transmission of Election Result.
The CDD noted that the legislative document represents another beautiful outcome from the collaborative efforts of the Senate and House of Representatives, as it was thoroughly and meticulously implemented assigned by its committees on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Electoral Matters.
According to CDD, the new Electoral Bill contains provisions that seek to improve the electoral system, including the process of voting, collation, and announcement of results, and most importantly help address the lack of public confidence in the process.
In addition, the direct primary method for candidate selection proposed in the Bill will improve internal party democracy by strengthening party membership.
CDD therefore urged President Mohammadu Buhari to sign the bill, and write his name in the golden place of history.
(Editor, Omor Bazuaye)
