Lobby Against Direct Primaries Intensifies As NASS Transmits Electoral Bill For Presidential Assent

After intense lobbying to thwart the transmission of the amended electoral bill to president Muhammadu Buhari for his assent failed, those against Direct Primaries have shifted their attention to the Presidential Villa.

THE WHISTLER learnt late Friday that the governors who are opposed to the new proviso that compels all political parties to adopt direct primaries in the selection of their candidates have mobilised to speak directly with the president to explain why he should not sign it into law.

A terse statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Senate President, Senator Babajide Omoworare, revealed that the document had reached the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday.

The statement said, “Please be informed that in pursuance of Section 58 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2 LFN 2004, the National Assembly has transmitted the Electoral Bill 2021 to Mr. President today Friday November 19, 2021.”

The furore about the new amendment split the two major political parties as the parliament went ahead through bipartisanship to harmonise and pass it for the president’s assent.

While the major opposition party, the PDP rejected it in its entirety, the ruling party, APC, splits in two with some governors endorsing the amendment.

The governors, which include Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, are being accused of playing proxy game.

Particularly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, seen as Mr Bola Tinubu’s protege, has been accused of carrying out Tinubu’s dictate.

Mr Tinubu is the former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the APC. He hopes to contest the 2023 presidential election with over a 100 political groups already endorsing him.

Reports say the president may sign it into law since he does not see anything wrong with it especially as he feels it will deepen Nigerian democracy.

The APC caretaker Committee Chairman, Mr Mai Mala Buni, it was learnt, has planned to quickly speak with the president on behalf of the APC governors to prevent him from assenting to the bill.