Twenty-six civil
society organisations (CSOs) have declared February 22 as a “national day of
protest” to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the electoral act
amendment bill into law.
The president earlier declined assent to the bill, citing concerns over the
recommendation of direct primaries for political parties.
The president had said compulsory direct primary for
political parties “violates the spirit of democracy”.
The clause was later removed by the senate and House of Representatives and the lawmakers introduced a clause allowing political parties to elect their candidates using direct, indirect or consensus methods.
The revised bill was subsequently transmitted to the president on
January 31.
In a statement issued on Friday, the CSOs said Buhari needs
to sign the bill before February 22 if the date for the 2023 general election
announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will stand.
“On the 31st January, 2022, the National Assembly
transmitted the Electoral Bill 2022 to the President for assent after
expeditiously reworking the bill to meet the President’s expectations,” the
statement reads.
“The bill allows
electronic transmission of results, strengthens INEC’s financial independence
and empowers the commission to reject falsified election results.
“The bill, when signed, requires INEC to issue Notice of
Election not later than 360 days before the day appointed for an election.
Therefore, the President has to give assent to the bill on or before 22nd
February 2022 if the dates announced for the 2023 elections are to be
maintained.
“The delay in granting presidential assent to the Electoral
Bill, 2022 will create legal uncertainties that threaten the integrity of the
off-cycle elections in Ekiti, Osun, and the 2023 general election, which is 366
days away.
“The civil society community resolves to declare Tuesday,
22nd February 2022, as the National Day of Protest to demand immediate assent
to the bill.
“Civil society
networks will organise peaceful public direct-action activities to further the
demand to assent the bill. We urge citizens across the nation to call on
President Muhammadu Buhari to act on this matter of urgent national
importance.”
The signatories to the statement are listed as follows:
- Nigeria
Civil Society Situation Room
- Yiaga
Africa
- Partners
for Electoral Reform (PER)
- International
Press Centre
- Institute
for Media and Society
- Nigerian
Women Trust Fund
- The
Albino Foundation
- Centre
for Citizens with Disability
- Premium
Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ)
- Labour
Civil Society Coalition (LASCO)
- Transition
Monitoring Group
- CLEEN
Foundation
- Civil
Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)
- Women
Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC)
- Nigeria
Network of Non-Governmental Organisations (NNNGO)
- Inclusive
Friends Association (IFA)
- Enough
is Enough
- The
Electoral Hub
- Centre
for Liberty
- Take
Back Nigeria Movement
- International
Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC)
- 100
Women Lobby Group
- Women
in Politics Forum
- Raising
New Voices
- Millennials
Active Citizenship Advocacy Africa
- Ready
To Lead Africa
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