National chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Engr Yabagi Yusuf Sani has said Nigeria does not have the political maturity for the direct primary election model in the selection of political party flag bearers.
He stated this in Abuja yesterday while briefing the press on some national issues. He said, “We are of the view that, much as we may cherish its perceived benefits, the country, at this stage of the progress of its democracy, does not appear to be sufficiently ripe and prepared for the direct primary election model in the selection of political party flag bearers.
“Also, against the backdrop of the President’s decisive aversion to this particular provision of the Electoral Bill, the use of veto by the legislature may merely result in a fruitless exercise if at the end of the day, its implementation is not supported by the required funding by the executive.”
On the ongoing stalemate between the legislature and the executive over the 2021 Electoral Bill, he commended the National Assembly for the courage, high level of commitment and patriotism exhibited in the passage of a Bill that has been widely applauded as groundbreaking and transformative in the annals of the nation’s legislative chambers.
“While many may not concede to the explanations of security challenges with the other reasons given by the President, it will be difficult however, to disagree with him on the reason of complex logistics and huge financial burden that direct primary elections will imply for the Independent National Electoral Commission,” he added.
He also urged the National Assembly and executive arms to be rather more concerned about ensuring the integrity of the electoral process and how to reduce the costs of democratic practices and make Nigeria’s democracy more resilient.
Accordingly, he recommended that the legislature should accede to the expunging of the clauses regarding direct primary election thereby, saving the other equally important provisions among which, is the one on the mandatory electronic transmission of election results by INEC.
“By that, we believe that President Muhammadu Buhari should have no further reason to withhold his assent,” he added.
