- Lawmakers have been accused of plans to truncate Nigeria's democracy
- The allegation was made by the North Central Democracy and Peace Vanguard
- The group said members of the National Assembly insistence that the Electoral Amendment Act must be signed into law is aimed at sinking the nation’s flourishing democracy
Following the growing controversy over the rejection of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari, a north central group has alleged that the bill was crafted by some members of the National Assembly to sink the nation’s flourishing democracy.
The group, North Central Democracy and Peace Vanguard, accused the National Assembly of a ‘plot’ against the country.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, December 10, the group’s national president, Gabriel Agibi, said that Nigerians will hold the lawmakers solely responsible for any untoward development in the polity.
Agibi said the insistence on using "a faulty electoral law for the conduct of the election" by the National Assembly is a major trigger to foment trouble and cause widespread violent protests across Nigeria.
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The group at the briefing called on well-meaning Nigerians to condemn the alleged attempt by members of the National Assembly and the opposition to derail Nigeria's democracy through the manipulation of the Constitutional provisions.
Agibi said Nigerians should occupy the National Assembly until their representatives in the National Assembly cease and desist from using the Electoral Act Amendment to heat up the polity. He added that there were other pressing matters that deserve the attention of the National Assembly.
The group demanded: “That the National Assembly immediately ceases this evil plot against the country. Should the lawmakers persist on this destructive path, Nigerians will hold them solely responsible for any untoward development in the polity.
“President Buhari immediately takes measures to safeguard the country against any breakdown in law and order in the country since this is the end game that the plotters are banking on to destabilize our democracy.
“That the Independent National Electoral Commission goes ahead to manage the 2019 General Election with the same law with which it began the process irrespective of whatever other criminality gets thrown its way in the form of a vetoed legislation.
The judiciary exists for situations like this so INEC must seek interpretation up to the Supreme Court before it can manage the elections with two sets of law."
The group said its demands were made because it has become increasingly clear to that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is the target.
"The objective is to shove the government aside and get rid of him in the process so that the number two position can go to another region while the north continues as number one position," Agibi added.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Oby Ezekwesili, the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, has threatened to mobilise Nigerians to protest against President Buhari’s decision to decline assent to the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018.
She made the threat during a press conference at the party’s secretariat in Abuja on Monday, December 10.
Legit.ng gathers that Ezekwesili pointed out that most Nigerians want accreditation during the 2019 elections to be done through smart card readers, and that this was proposed in the bill the president has refused to sign.
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Source: Legit.ng
