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Jonathan’s Tantrums on NASS

THE political Chess to elected positions in the nation’s political offices heats up on a daily basis. The intrigues and political maneuvering however call for concern. THE HOPE is unequivocal in her persuasions that the manner of seeking party’s tickets now, is a pointer to how the main elections would be conducted in the coming days. The internal democratic values of Nigeria’s political parties remain the microcosm of the nation’s political culture and democratic practice.

THEREFORE, where the will of party members are subverted by the overbearing authoritarian hegemony of party executives, then it is not yet Uhuru in the nation’s quest for true democracy, even after twenty-two uninterrupted years of practice. The whole process has become marred by the various facts of forced jettison of interests’ allegations of manipulation of delegates’ lists and unabashed vote marketing.

THE HOPE therefore is in tandem with President Goodluck Jonathan’s perception and verdict on the political process that seeks to produce the next torch bearers of the nation’s development agenda. In his words, “These whole primaries going on across the country is a mess. This is not a standard practice. The process has failed. We cannot use the process to elect president, governors, senators and House of Representatives members and others. The process was already failed, which is not good for the country” With the former President’s perception, we  are also encouraged to conclude that a failed process cannot produce the right results. That may therefore, presuppose that our democracy is ailing at the moment, and needs be cured, before it becomes a political epidemic.

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HOWEVER, we differ from the former President’s aspersions on members of the National Assembly over the amendment of the Electoral Act 2022, and the insertion of the provisions of the Section 84(8) of the Act which provides that only elected delegates can vote in a primary election. We recognize the inalienable rights and powers of the National Assembly to make wholesome laws for the nation. While the former President fumed and advised “…the National Assembly, that laws must be designed to solve problems, not designed to create problems”, we are persuaded that the new Electoral Act had solved many problems inherent in the past laws guiding the conduct of the nation’s elections. We would also encourage Dr. Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR) to accept the fact that laws are made in the general interests of the nation and not for the particular interest of some set of people.

FURTHERMORE, the former President’s advice that lawmakers should be blind, as is expected of Judges who interpret the law, is an argumentum ad baculum. Laws are to be made, with eyes wide open, so as to consider the intention, possible repercussions and suitability before it is passed. This informed the President Muhammadu Buhari’s insistence on changes in some aspects of the Act before appending his signature. Given the years it took for the Electoral Act to see the light of the day, former President’s aspersions on the Electoral Act 2022 also suffers from argumentum ad hominem by his subtle submission that “Laws must not be made to target individuals or an individual”.

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WE strongly opine that the present Electoral Act in all intents and purposes seeks to strengthen the internal democracies of political parties in the first instance and rightly entrench the power of choice in the people as is expected in a true democracy.

LAWS can be amended, as the need arises. However, the National Assembly must not be railroaded into making laws which are not subject to rigorous and critical thinking. As it is, the National Assembly in its wisdom had observed the lacuna in the section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022 that seems to infringe on the voting rights of some persons, and had therefore amended it to include statutory delegates as participants in the primary elections of political parties. However, the substantive President has still withheld assent as interpretation and possible outcomes of the amendment is still being scrutinized.

AS the primaries continue at the various political parties, we advocate that the National Assembly needs to observe the various challenges and unwholesome acts of parties as they implement the provisions of the Act, in order to identify areas of needed amendments. The former President would do well at this period of the nation’s democracy if law enforcement agents ensure that the activities of political parties conform to the dictates of the Electoral Act and bring offenders to book rather than questioning the intelligence and rationality of the National Assembly in making laws that are meant to strengthen our democracy.

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Jonathan’s  Tantrums  on NASS

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