The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Lagos State on Wednesday applauded the Senate’s removal of the direct primary clause from the 2021 Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
IPAC Chairman in Lagos State, Mr James Adeshina, gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
NAN recalls that the National Assembly had in 2021, passed a version of the bill and transmitted it to President Muhammadu Buhari, who declined assent to the bill over the inclusion of direct primary clause.
According to IPAC boss, President Muhammadu Buhari should give assent to the bill now without delay.
“As IPAC, we want to support what the Senate has done, especially for passing the electoral bill into law in the first instance and now for the removal of the clause that makes direct primary mandatory for all political parties.
“So, it is a good one and we as IPAC at the state level are in support and are excited. We need a clean electoral act for the next general elections.
“We believe the amendments to the electoral act will further strengthen our election management and democracy in Nigeria.
“We are looking towards having a more transparent elections in the 2023,” he said.
Adeshina, who is also the Lagos State Chairman of the African Action Congress, said that the electronic transmission of election results provided for in the bill would do the Nigerian democracy much good in forthcoming elections.
NAN reports that the Senate on Wednesday removed the clause that made direct primary mandatory for the election of candidates in political parties from the Electoral Act Amendment bill.
President Buhari had said that the mandatory use of direct primaries for all political parties in the country would be too expensive to execute.
The president also expressed fears that the proposed mandatory use of direct primaries would amount to the violation of citizens’ rights and would lead to marginalisation for smaller political parties.
Buhari advised the National Assembly to look into the areas of concern and transmit the bill to him for assent.