27th February, 2022
Mr Osita Okechukwu, the Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON) commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for his profound assent to the Electoral Act amendment bill.
Okechukwu said the Electoral Act 2022 marks a significant turning point in Nigeria’s journey toward electoral reforms, reinforced democratic rights, higher voters turn out and consolidation of democracy.
According to him, the President has given lovers of democracy a booster shot of Vote-Rigging-Vaccine (VRV) by signing the bill into law.
He said that contrary to insinuations by naysayers, who like Joseph Goebbels of Nazi Germany, kept on telling the big lie and fake news that Buhari will not sign the bill and those who believed them, President has proved them wrong by endorsing the VRV, a crucial piece of electoral legislation.
Okechukwu, who is also a founding member of All Progressives Congress (APC), said through the strokes of his signature-pen on the bill, President Buhari has bequeathed to Nigerians an Electoral Act that empowers the deployment of the Smart Card Reader, Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other technological devices for electoral fidelity.
“Under the Electoral Act 2022, the VRV offers electronic accreditation and electronic transmission of results. These voter empowerment machines combined to revolutionise free, fair and transparent elections in Nigeria.
“Electronic Transmission of results is the key element in the Act and will automatically boost voters’ turn out to 60 per cent in future elections.
“It is the lofty milestone and indeed, comes as one of the progressive legacies of Mr President who, as a victim of vote-rigging has always craved for law instrument that contains progressive provisions to knock out thuggery during accreditation, voting and collation processes.
“By consolidating the power of votes to count and transparently so counted, President Buhari has finally empowered the people to come out in large numbers to choose their leaders without the interference of the dreaded Money Bags.”
Meanwhile, he expressed hope that Nigerians will be less attracted by stomach infrastructure or vote-buying and need not protest or demonstrate against the missiles.
Furthermore, he maintained that with the Vote-Rigging-Vaccine (VRV) strengthened by the black ink of the law, Nigerians can now troop out to voting booths on Election Day with confidence that their votes would vote out bad leaders.
He said the battle between leaders and the led over accountability has shifted to the ballot box and the social contracts strengthened to be honoured.
However, he urged Nigerians to always reflect on the remarks by Buhari when he signed the bill, especially when the President said, “Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of the National Assembly, from the review, it is my perspective that the substance of the Bill is both reformative and progressive.
“I am making this bold declaration because I foresee the great potential of the Bill. Worthy of note include the democratic efficacy of the Bill with particular reference to sections 3,9(2), 34, 41, 47, 84(9), (10) and (11) among others.”
According to Okechukwu, Mr President’s statement not only offers hope for a better democratic culture forever in our dear country but also reinforces our long hope to become truly the giant of Africa.
Okechukwu also appealed to INEC to put its acts together to give life to VRV; the ultimate instrument of Voters Empowerment and democratic Risorgimento in Nigeria.
For political parties, he cautioned them to beware for Buhari’s VRV is a searchlight on their commitment to internal democracy and the building of a united and inclusive country.
NAN