Direct Primaries: INEC is Ready once President Buhari Approves Amended Election Law, Yakubu Declares

• Professor Mahmood Yakubu has addressed the INEC's position concerning the direct mode of primaries
• The INEC chairman disclosed recently that the commission is ready as soon as the president approves the amended election law
• Professor Yakubu also sent a note of warning to politicians against the use of multiple voter cards ahead of the 2023 general election

Lagos state- The national chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has declared the readiness of the commission to monitor direct primaries of political parties once President Muhammadu Buhari signs the amended Electoral Bill into law.

Speaking at an interactive meeting with Online publishers in Lagos, on Wednesday, November 24, Yakubu, who advised politicians acquiring multiple voter cards with the hope of rigging polls to have a rethink because the latest technology deployed by the commission would neutralise their efforts, said the INEC is ready to implement direct primaries, Vanguard reported.

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He said:

“Since it emerged that the direct primary clause was included in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, many of you have been asking the commission for its position. The issue is not about our position but the process.

"In the exercise of its constitutional power, the National Assembly has passed the bill into law awaiting presidential assent. Once the process is concluded, the bill becomes law and every person and authority in Nigeria, including the commission, must obey.

"The commission will give expeditious consideration to the law, including the detailed regulations and guidelines for its implementation where necessary.”

Governor reacts to Electoral Act Amendment Bill, says governors not scared of direct primaries

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that the governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, on Wednesday, November 10, reacted to the harmonisation of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill by members of the National Assembly.

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He said claims that some governors are set to determine the political stance of some lawmakers is false.

Bello went on to note that he believes that no governor issues their tickets to members of the National Assembly as widely reported.

Noting that he does not believe that any governor in Nigeria is scared of their parties conducting direct primaries, Bello said decisions at the high level of governance cannot be taken on impulse.

Source: Legit.ng