Dogara
Speaker
of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has stated that
the House of Representatives would resist any further attempt to
frustrate the enactment of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill
as
failure to do so would be indicative of a desire not to improve on
the successes recorded in the 2015 elections.
Delivering
a speech to mark the resumption of the House from its annual recess
at the National Assembly, Hon Dogara said the passage of the Bill is
also important in order to quell fears that some forces intend to
manipulate the forthcoming elections by exploiting identified
loopholes in the Electoral Act currently in force.
He
explained that the new Electoral Act amendment Bill has provisions
that are designed to guarantee free, fair and transparent elections
in Nigeria, entrenches the Smart Card Reader and electronic
transmission of results, among others. He also added that the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Supplementary budget
Bill must also be accorded expeditious consideration.
“As
we settle down to business, let me reiterate that the INEC
Supplementary budget Bill must be accorded expeditious consideration.
Furthermore, the pending issue of the Electoral Act amendment Bill,
which was unfortunately vetoed by Mr President, must also be
expeditiously considered and passed. The new Electoral Act amendment
Bill has provisions that are designed to guarantee free, fair and
transparent elections in Nigeria. The amendment Bill entrenches the
Smart Card Reader and electronic transmission of results among
others. Any further attempt to frustrate the passing into law of the
Bill, will be indicative of our desire not to improve on the
successes of the 2015 general elections further fueling the fears
that some including our international partners have about some forces
who intend to manipulate the forthcoming elections by exploiting
identified loopholes in the Electoral Act currently in force,” he
added.
The
speaker said the August 8th assault on the institution of the
National Assembly by masked personnel of the Department of State
Services, DSS, the third by security agencies working in concert with
anti-democratic elements in quick succession, was a rude reminder to
all that, “our democracy is still very fragile and therefore we
should never go to sleep believing that the work of democracy is done
and that progress is inevitable.”
Furthermore,
he thanked vigilant NASS members, who at great risks, confronted
these heavily armed; masked and hooded fascist agents, the Press,
Civil Society Organisations, the generality of Nigerians and the
international community for rising to the occasion as living heroes
of our democracy.
He
also commended the then Acting President, His Excellency, Professor
Yemi Osinbajo, SAN who swiftly took disciplinary action against some
of the perpetrators of these seditious and subversive action and
called on the executive to ensure that all other assessors, before or
after the fact of this treasonable act, must be quickly brought to
book; as the then DG, SSS could never have acted alone.
Charging
his colleagues to be steadfast in their fight to protect democracy,
Hon Dogara reminded them that their loyalty must be in tandem with
their oath of office to the nation and not to any individual or
sectional cause or interest.
He
said, “The goal of some people who are working to enthrone tyranny
and despotism is to harass, intimidate and ridicule this great
institution of the people to the point that we are forced to abdicate
our responsibilities and fidelity to our oath of office. It’s a
pity that these elements know nothing about the character of this
great Institution and the fact that our devotion to the rule of law
far surpasses our love and admiration for any individual or group of
persons. If this was not the case, third term would have succeeded
and the motion on the doctrine of necessity would have failed. We
cannot drift, in our own time, from the path of honour and courage
that has been the hallmark of this hallowed Chambers. As patriots, we
owe it a duty to patriotically support the patriotic even if they are
our foes and to patriotically oppose or defeat the unpatriotic even
if they are our best friends.”
While
commending all members of committees who sat during the recess, he
specifically thanked the Joint Committee on INEC for the patriotism,
sacrifice and commitment they put into the work on the INEC
Supplementary Budget for the 2019 general elections, he urged his
colleagues not to lose sight of the fact that they still have much
business to do.
He
said, “I urge us not to be so absorbed by the politics of 2019 as
to allow our Legislative duties to suffer. We must utilise the
available time judiciously to serve the country and our people to the
best of our ability. Having started strong with ground breaking
and record setting achievements, we will be on the wrong side of
history if we fail to finish as strongly as we started. It is said
that the end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof.”
The
speaker, who congratulated all members who won their primary
elections, wished those whose elections may still be in process a
favourable conclusion and pledged assistance for others who are said
to have lost their nominations in circumstances which remain
contentious so that they get fair opportunities as they have all made
tremendous sacrifices and it is only fair that they are rewarded.
“The
leadership is aware of the impunity that characterised the conduct of
some primaries in which some of our members allegedly lost the ticket
to contest in the next election. We have done our best to ensure
internal democracy within parties but it appears parties prefer to
pander to the whims and caprices of some individuals rather than the
law. May I reiterate the warning of Kekere-Ekun, JSC in MATO V.
HEMBER & 2 ORS (2018) 5 NWLR (PT. 1612) 258 at pages 297-298
PARAGRAPHS C-B,” he stated, adding that, “It is a pity that the
2018 primaries will throw up more pre-election cases than ever before
witnessed in Nigeria due to display of impunity by parties in the
conduct of primaries across board.”
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