• Saliu Mustapha hails N’ Assembly for acceding to Buhari’s request
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to caution politicians jumping the gun ahead of presidential campaigns.
In a statement issued in Abuja by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, yesterday, HURIWA said the rule mandates INEC to make public notice of an election, stating the date and appointing a place where papers are to be delivered in each state of the federation, not later than 90 days to such an election, and in the case of a by-election, not later than 14 days.
MEANWHILE, a frontline aspirant for the position of National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Saliu Mustapha, has hailed the National Assembly for seeing wisdom in President Muhammadu Buhari’s suggestion that a single mode of primaries should not be forced on political parties in the 2021 Electoral Act (amendment bill).
He said this, yesterday, in a statement issued on his behalf by his media aide, Dapo Okubanjo.
He said although the Senate and House of Representatives have different views on possible options, it was a thing of joy that the federal lawmakers expunged the contentious clause, rather than attempt to override the President’s veto.
He said: “For several weeks, the main issue in the polity had been Buhari’s decision to decline assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021 on the grounds of insecurity and cost of conducting direct primaries, with many stakeholders having their say on the matter.
“Only a few days ago, governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) even urged the National Assembly to override the President’s veto. But I am glad that the legislators have agreed on the need to expand the options to include indirect primaries and consensus.
“Like I said, in previous interactions with the media, political parties should be allowed to determine the mode of primaries that will further their quest to win elections.”
