Electoral Act: Insertion to section 87 obnoxious -Osita

What is your take on the insertion into Section 87 of the 2010 Electoral Act, i.e. the inclusion of members of the National Assembly in the National Executive Committee {NEC} of political parties? It is an obnoxious insertion, self serving and designed to undermine the Electoral Act, the constitution and indeed, democracy. The National Assembly […]

What is your take on the insertion into Section 87 of the 2010 Electoral Act, i.e. the inclusion of members of the National Assembly in the National Executive Committee {NEC} of political parties?

It is an obnoxious insertion, self serving and designed to undermine the Electoral Act, the constitution and indeed, democracy. The National Assembly {NASS} members had regrettably been making laws for themselves, all aimed at perpetuating themselves at the NASS.  They consigned the Information Bill to the dust-bin of history and are quick in passing this.

Is it not paradoxical that the NASS members who wittingly rejected the core recommendations of the Uwais Report, which set an impeccable template and critical legal framework for free, fair and transparent election; are today inserting obnoxious clause in the Electoral Act to protect themselves, especially the Peoples Democratic Party {PDP} members?

Therefore, the clause should be deleted, for why did they just wake up from deep slumber of over ten years to remember that they are not members of the National Executive Committee of the PDP?

One would want our distinguished and honourable members of the NASS to answer these questions if they still insist they are not on the journey of self glorification.

Why do you not agree with the position of members of the NASS that they are inserting the clause to deepen democracy, guarantee popular participation of members and enhance internal democracy in the political parties?

The best way to deepen democracy is to make laws that guarantees free, fair and transparent elections. What do I mean? India is the world largest democracy followed by the United States of America. Pakistan is also rated as one of the countries of the world where democracy thrives, despite insecurity.

In India and Pakistan, the two major political parties in the two countries – Congress Party of India and Pakistani Peoples Party are owned by families – Ghandi and Bhutto families. There was no law enacted by the parliament of the two countries to compel the two political parties to adhere to rules guiding internal democracy; rather what compelled the two parties to adhere to the best practices were the ingrained electoral processes which guarantees free and fair elections in the two countries.

The day, free and fair elections take root in Nigeria, each and every political party naturally will sieve the almighty public opinion before candidates are chosen and therefore, the harbinger of internal democracy is free and fair election.

The Bill has passed the second reading in the Senate and has majority support in the House, what happens if the Bill sails through?

Heaven will not fall, for parliaments are structured in such a manner throughout history that it is difficult for unpopular laws to last ad-infinitum; there is always a way to purge laws which are not intended to serve public good. This is the primary objective of holding elections at intervals and the intention of elections is to guarantee popular participation and make sure that rascals do not dominate the parliament.

 

What do you think is the position of the governors in this move to make members of the NASS automatic member of the NEC of political parties?

Naturally, the PDP governors will oppose this; for with the Food-is-Ready political culture in place, there is always this cat and mouse game between the governors who control the Revenue Allocation and the NASS members who have converted the NASS into a trade center. For them, it is a do-or-die battle. The NASS members are among the few rich ones who can confront the almighty governors, who are more or less emperors.

 

Are you sure that there will be free and fair elections in 2011?

Nobody can guarantee free and fair election in 2011, because the Uwais Report’s core ingredient like the democratization of appointment of members was ignored.

What of Professor Attahiru Jega?

I know that you, like most Nigerians, head to Professor Jega’s appointment. Let me remind you that Professor Jega is not a Sole Administrator; he has other 12 National Electoral Commissioners, 36 Resident Electoral Commissioners and 774 Electoral Officers.