Former Katsina Lawmaker Calls For Change In Electoral Law

This is to allow all elected principal officers and members of the National Assembly whether serving, present, and past members to be categorically included in the forthcoming Presidential primary election.

The Chairman of the forum, Hon. Mariya Abdullahi made the call during a press conference held on Tuesday at the Old Katsina Government House, Katsina.

According to Hon. Abdullahi, the constitutional laws of all the political parties in Nigeria made use of both ad-hoc and statutory delegates as their sources of electing credible candidates for general elections duly observed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

READ ALSO: Buhari, APC Governors’ Meeting In Pictures

She explained that the amendment of Law 84 (8) by the National Assembly, a bill yet to be signed by the President, has barricaded all the serving and non-serving lawmakers from active participation in all selection processes of all aspirants at all the electoral levels.

Abdullahi further observed that the amendment of the law by the National Assembly generated a number of political miscalculations and exposed the sponsors of the bill from the two Houses as amateurs of law.

“This is because the law was meant to protect the political interests of the people, the politicians, the party, and the government at all times.

“Ironically the law eliminates all serving and non-serving political office holders-The President, the Governors, the party chairmen, the elected States, and National Assembly members.

“Without proper knowledge of the negative consequences of the amendment or the Law (84 (8), the law turns to be “blind” on even the lawmakers.

“Ideally, the law targeted only the political appointees (the Ministers, Commissioners, SA’S, PA’S, etc) but the blind eye of the lawmakers could
not trace the political relevance and presence of the serving and non-serving elected officers”. Abdullahi added.