Former Kano Governor Says Buhari Won’t Sign Electoral Bill, Gives Reason, Reveals What Lawmakers Will Do
- Former Kano state governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has revealed why he believed President Buhari won't sign the Electoral Act amendment bill
- Kwankwaso alleged that the state governors have pressured the president not to sign the bill because of the provision for direct primary
- The former governor said though direct primary is better, governors do not want it because it makes them less powerful
Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former Kano governor, has claimed President Muhammadu Buhari will not sign the Electoral Act amendment bill because state governors have pressured him not to approve the provision for direct primary.
The Punch reported that Kwankwaso said this during a chat ahead of the National Assembly’s recess.
Source: Facebook
According to the former Kano governor, mandatory direct primaries will provide a level playing field and ensure that popular candidates emerge.
He, however, said governors would not support it because such mandatory primaries could make them less powerful.
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He said:
“In 1999, I was elected as the candidate of the PDP through direct primary but along the line, we realised that there were issues with the direct primary.
"It is very cumbersome; some weaknesses here and there but after practising the indirect primary, I can easily compare and say the direct one is more democratic and better than the indirect."
Kwankwaso said governors and "other powerful people" will never want to approve direct primary because the power will get out of the government houses and land in the hands of the voters and members of the party.
He added that he found it extremely difficult to see how the president will sign the bill.
Asked if he was sure that President Buhari would not sign the bill, Senator Kwankwaso reportedly reiterated that the president would not sign it since the APC made efforts to ensure that the National Assembly did not sign it last month.
National Assembly won't override Buhari's veto - Kwankwaso
He also said the National Assembly would not override the president’s veto in the event that he refused to sign the bill.
According to him, the current National Assembly has portrayed itself as an extension of the executive arm of government.
He said since the Senate had said all of Buhari’s requests were good for Nigeria, it means that they would not oppose the president’s decision.
Nigerians react
Timiebi Moses Tamara-Ekpezu commented on Facebook:
"It is more easier for the national assembly to make laws that will legalize excessive borrowing, banditry, kidnapping, killing and herdsmen-terrorist in this country than the president to sign the electoral amendment art bill into law."
Martins Martins Egiri said:
"Buhari should help us with this, before leaving for his dear farm work this country has pass through hell so let him help us with this matter na beg we beg am."
Ekpezu Nse Daniel said:
"From day one I knew he won't sign it. How would they come back to power if he signs it."
Martins Amadi said:
"There won't be any need to conduct an election with the present faulty electoral system. If Nigerians are not assured that they vote will count, we should just do selection instead..."
2023: Kwankwaso opens up on presidential ambition
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Senator Kwankwaso said he had not yet taken any decision on whether or not he would contest for president in 2023.
Appearing as a guest on Arise News TV on Friday, October, the former governor was asked if he would once again fight for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the next general elections.
Responding, the PDP chieftain said he had not taken a decision on it as many things were still unknown at the moment. He noted that he would also need to make necessary consultations before taking such a big political decision.
Source: Legit.ng
