Nigeria's National Assembly


As Nigerians debate the pros and cons of President Muhammadu Buhari's refusal to assent to the Electoral Bill which recommended   'Direct Primaries' amongst other provisions for 2023 general election, Rep Sam Onuigbo has declared that direct primaries in the selection of candidates to stand for election is the best for Nigeria.

Rep Onuigbo during an interview with Mamoud Jega of Arise TV explained that he was a member of the National Assembly's Joint Technical Committee which expended valuable time and energy on the final draft of the bill: "I feel disappointed considering the effort we made  as members of the Joint Technical Committee. What was finally passed represents the position of the National Assembly in consultation with even INEC and the Civil Society. You are currently gauging the mood of the nation and so, you know how the people feel about this decision by the President", he says

The lawmaker representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency probed  the reason advanced by President Buhari for rejecting assent to the bill: "Which one is better? The cost of conducting the election being high, or the cost of misgovernance due to election of bad and incompetent leaders? The idea behind direct primaries is to allow those who employ politicians - the electorates - to have a say in deciding who political parties present for elections and by so doing, better candidates emerge, for me, that is better", he affirmed.

On the way forward, Onuigbo, noting  that section 58 of the Constitution provides for the National Assembly to override the President, averred that both chambers of the National Assembly would abide by provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended

He  however  added  that the close approach of the festive season which necessitated the National Assembly going on recess forestalled immediatea ction by either chamber of the legislature, but observed that it "...has afforded us the opportunity to use this time to go back to our constituents who elected us, and then make a final decision  when we return, based on the position of our constituents".