PRESS STATEMENT February 15, 2009
WHITHER ELECTORAL REFORM COMMITTEE REPORT
Conference of Nigeria Political Parties {CNPP} in league with other patriots and progressive democrats nationwide; for the umpteenth time challenge President Umaru Musa Yaradua to as a matter of urgent national importance; to not only release the Electoral Reform Committee {ERC} Report to public domain, but to present the Bills in the Report to the National Assembly forthwith. Time is of essence.
Our concern over whither the ERC Report emanates from ominous allegation making the rounds, to the effect that the 2011 Elections Committee set up by President Yaradua to review the ERC Report, made up of newly recruited advisers and Mr Fix It ; had instead of recommending the issue of government White-paper or submission of the Bills in the Report to the National Assembly, advised outright dumping of the Report.
It could be recalled that the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammed Uwais led 22 members ERC submitted its Report to President Yaradua on 12 th December 2008, and two months after, the findings of the Report was not made public nor the Bills and the far reaching recommendations submitted to the National Assembly for debates and considerations.
This is a very sad political development when we take cognizance of the fact the amendment of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria falls under the rigid paradigm and that the Anambra State Governorship election is around the corner and that 2010 will be dominated by electioneering campaign.
This is the unfortunate scenario when we remember that, it was President Yaradua who in his inaugural speech humbly admitted the flawed nature of the electoral process that brought him to power and consequent upon he set up the ERC. To now dump the ERC Report, when Nigerians and friends of Nigeria are hoping that the amendment of the defective sections of the Constitution and extant laws, will erase the name of our dear country from the hall of infamy of countries where democracy is vanishing; is unpatriotic and cannot serve the rule of law mantra of the regime.
For the avoidance of doubt, here are some excerpts of the ERC Report that the President Yaradua’s 2011 Elections Committee are unnecessarily afraid of:
1} National Assembly to undertake a comprehensive review of the provisions of 1999 Constitution, Electoral Act 2006 and other laws to effect changes that are required to ensure free and fair elections as recommended in this Report.
2} that INEC should be unbundled and that on the composition of INEC the National Judicial Council {NJC} instead of the Mr President should nominate chairman, national commissioners down the line through public advertisements.
3} that funding of INEC shall be First-Charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.
4} that State Independent Electoral Commission should be integrated to INEC.
CNPP consequently cannot comprehend any harm in these recommendations to deepen and strengthen our democracy nor decipher why a president whose party controls over 700 out of 880 seats in the State Houses of Assembly nationwide, 280 out of 360 seats in the Federal House of Representatives,80 Senators out of 109 and 28 Governors out 36 should be afraid to win election the event of Electoral Reform. He should not be in this page with scare mongers of his 2011 Election Committee.
The danger for President Yaradua if dumps the ERC Report or submits it late is that he will he deny himself a wonderful legacy by breaking the promise of Electoral Reform he promised his county men.
Osita Okechukwu
National Publicity Secretary
CNPP
08039738870
