The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has sounded the alarm on a Senate bill that seeks to establish an independent Local Government Electoral Commission, warning that it will harm Nigeria’s democracy. The party views this proposed legislation as a sinister move to destroy democracy, alleging it’s laden with fraudulent intent.
According to Ladipo Johnson, NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, the bill aims to create an autonomous federal agency to oversee local government elections across the country. However, Johnson believes this will only compound the already chaotic election process, prone to abuse by federal authorities. He argues that the negative perception of INEC, the country’s electoral commission, doesn’t support the creation of another federal agency.
Johnson emphasized that the problem with Nigeria’s elections lies in institutional fraudulent practices, not the need for new agencies. Instead, he advocates for a change in attitude among those operating the system, stressing the importance of strictly applying electoral laws and defending democracy.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Sani Musa, has already passed its first reading stage in the Senate. NNPP is urging Nigerians to rise against this bill, warning that it will further encumber democracy if passed into law. The party is calling on all opposition parties to join the protest, emphasizing that the bill’s potential for abuse by federal powers poses a significant threat to the country’s democratic system.
