Attahiru Jega, a former chairman of the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), says more problems may be created if the direct
primary mode is made compulsory for political parties.
Speaking at a town hall meeting on the electoral bill
organised by Yiaga Africa on Sunday, Jega said it is not clear if any political
party in the country has a comprehensive membership register.
The compulsory direct primary provision for political parties
is contained in the electoral act amendment bill rejected by President
Muhammadu Buhari recently.
While explaining his decision to decline assent to the bill,
Buhari said adopting compulsory direct primary for political parties “violates
the spirit of democracy”.
Speaking on the development, the former INEC chairman said
it is important that the country goes into the 2023 polls with a new electoral
law.
“I think that this country will be better off with a new
electoral law which will enhance the preparation and conduct of the election,”
he said.
“Since 2010, we haven’t had a substantive legal framework
for elections. We must ensure that this bill becomes law. It is very important
that we have a legal framework, it will improve the integrity of the conduct of
the election.
“The lawmakers think
that if they opt for direct primaries they will free themselves from
manipulation.
“We need to interrogate these things. If we must do direct
primaries, we must do it well. Which political party in Nigeria today has a
clear party register to conduct direct primaries? Let us not leave one problem
and run into another one.
“If we proceed to do it (direct primaries) the way we are
doing it, we will create more problems.”
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