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Group Seeks Electoral Act Amendment To Capture Direct Primaries
A group, “We The People Forum (WTPF)”, yesterday called for the amendment of the Electoral Act to compel parties to adopt direct primaries in choosing their candidates.
The convener of the group, Mr Nathaniel Okoro made the call in a statement on behalf of the group made available to newsmen in Lagos.
According to the group, it is imperative for parties to adopt direct primaries in electing their candidates for general elections.
It argued that the delegate system was susceptible to corruption and did not guarantee the emergence of popular choices.
“We believe that for sanity to come to our national political firmament, the electoral law must be amended to make it compulsory for candidates for elective offices to emerge through direct primaries.
“The members of a political party must be the ones to choose their candidates through direct primaries.
“Indirect primaries, through delegates, are presently too susceptible to corrupt tendencies,’’ it said.
WTPF also said there was the need for electoral and judicial institutions to be strengthened to build the right capacities for credible elections.
It said that matters arising from Osun State, main and supplementary elections, showed that rigging and vote-buying were widespread.
The group said that similar issues that dominated the Ekiti State elections in 2014 and 2018 must not be allowed to become the template for elections in Nigeria.
In enhancing the credibility of elections, the group urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do more in educating the citizenry about the electoral law.
It also suggested that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) should do more to complement the efforts of INEC on voter education.
The group advised security agencies to play their expected roles in ensuring credible elections, adding that they should desist from acts capable of constricting participation.
On the gale of defections in the country, Okoro blamed the development on selfish interests of politicians and lack of ideology in political parties.
He called for the enactment and implementation of the relevant laws to check the practice.
“The Constitution must be amended so that anyone who defects from the party on which platform he won an election to become a political office holder to another party must relinquish his seat and another election must be called in the shortest possible time.
“If the defecting person retains the position in the new election, he is to complete his tenure with the new mandate.
“But in the event that another person wins, the new person is to receive a new tenure of four years.
“This, we believe is the only way to rein the political brigandage savaging the polity through the loop hole in the 1999 Constitution,” it said.
The group appealed to Nigerians to see the 2019 elections as a national project and urged citizens to play their parts to make it a success.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the prosecution of the Director of the now distressed MBA Forex Trading, Mr. Maxwell Odum, in the interest of justice.
The Rivers State NUJ made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the EFFC’s Ag. Zonal Director, ACE Hassan Saidu, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The council’s chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, said the appeal became imperative after it considered the number of Nigerians and others involved in the financial misconduct.
According to him, it has caused hardship among many households in the country and should be given the attention it deserves.
He said that investors cannot come into a country or invest in an economy or nation ridden with fraud.
This, he said, has made it more imperative to arrest, prosecute and convict alleged fraudsters like the MBA Forex Director, who is alleged to have defrauded thousands of unsuspecting Nigerians, to serve as a deterrent to others.
The chairman also requested that while the trial lasts, part of the swindled funds should be given to the victims that suffered loss and trauma as a result of the fraud.
The NUJ reiterated its resolve to change the narrative of reportage from crisis to developmental communication.
According to him, the NUJ’s main focus is blue economy and tourism.
He expressed the readiness of the Council to partner the agency in the area of information dissemination.
“We believe you have a responsibility to fight financial crimes. We also know that you need the Press to publicize your activities and NUJ can provide that,” he said.
Responding, the Zonal EFFC’s boss commended the NUJ’s vision to change the narrative of reporting from crisis to developmental communication.
According to Saidu, the Western world have since imbibed such culture, hence the negative stories about them are carefully sifted to allow only positive ones to be released to the outside world.
As for the trapped funds to be released, the EFCC Zonal Director stated that only the court can authorize such action, stressing that the primary responsibility of the Commission is to arrest and prosecute.
He pledged to partner with the NUJ now that the leadership has visited the Commission.
The Head of the Legal & Prosecution Department, DCE Odiase Stephen, corroborated the Zonal Director’s position and stressed that it was only when the matter has been determined by the court that such funds can be released.
He further stated that once a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it cannot be discussed outside.
By: King Onunwor
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