It is not only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that is not satisfied with the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2018 and the excuses he gave.
After the PDP asked the National Assembly to veto the President's decision, the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has also faulted President Buhari’s refusal to sign the Bill.
She says his decision is self-serving and must be thrown aside by the National Assembly.
Dr. Ezekwesili identified two things President Buhari's refusal to sign the Bill means for Nigeria.
1. A regression In Democratic Progress
The co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls said that the refusal would lead to a regression in the progress so far made in Nigeria’s democratic journey since 1999.
“Simply put, President Buhari has decided to single-handedly imperil the 2019 elections by choosing to regress the progress so far made in Nigeria’s democratic journey since 1999.
"Democracy belongs to the people of our country and not to one contestant in an election even if he is an incumbent.
"The excesses of an incumbent who wishes to engage in political corruption can be very much curbed by determined Nigerian people," she insisted.
2. Destabilise 2019 Election
At a World Press Conference in Abuja on Monday, the presidential candidate of ACPN wondered why President Buhari wanted to destabilise the country with the 2019 elections.
Ezekwesili said: “The 2019 elections are looked upon as the moment Nigeria must entrench electoral integrity and level playing field for all contestants.
"Regrettably, President Muhammadu Buhari has by his self-serving opposition to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2018 shown that he wishes to subvert the will of the Nigerian people for the conduct of a credible election in 2019.
“As a candidate in the 2019 election for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I demand that President Buhari immediately reconsiders his latest fourth rejection of the electoral bill.
"The President is dangerously setting the country and people up for political destabilisation in 2019".
The Next Step
She further described the President’s action as undemocratic and unpopular and made known her intention to mobilise Nigerians against the President’s action if this course is maintained.
She said: “I advise the President to rethink his opposition to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2018. The President should immediately request the National Assembly to retransmit the amendment Bill for his swift ascent into an Act.
“I call upon the National Assembly to act as the assembly of the good people of Nigeria and within the next three days, mobilise their majority membership to override President Muhammadu Buhari’s self-serving and dangerous opposition to the 2018 Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
“I call upon all well-meaning political parties to collaborate and urgently act together to ensure that the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2018 definitely becomes an Act on which the 2019 election shall be conducted.
According to her, the excuses of the President for not completing the process that will give Nigeria one of the soundest electoral laws in the world amount to an assault on “our democracy and this must be rejected roundly by all Nigerians".
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