Abe appeals to Nigerians to Support Passage of Electoral Act

Senator Magnus Abe, a former member of the National Assembly representing the Rivers South East Senatorial District, has urged Nigerians to support the passage of the Electoral Act by members of the National Assembly.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s signing of the Electoral Act, according to the former senator, will put an end to all power grabs and return authority to the people.

Abe made the announcement during a courtesy visit to His Royal Highness, Mene Kadilo Kabari, at Barako in Rivers State’s Gokana Local Government Area.

He emphasized that the law requiring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor direct primaries will lower the cost of holding elections in Nigeria.

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“Elections are not expensive; what has made elections expensive in our country is the behavior of people who have wrecked the electoral process.”

“If Mr. President signs this electoral Act, Nigeria would have a new beginning and new opportunity for Nigerians to realize the rewards of democracy because there will no longer be any shortcuts to power.”

He denounced the behavior of key players who should be architects of long-term democracy but are instead responsible for its chaotic and costly implementation.

“In our country today, elections are expensive because all those who should participate in the process, all those who are obligated to support the process, are fighting against it.”

“Elections are often a clerical job. If we allow them to work, all you need is a polling clerk, presiding officer, and party operatives to run an election that will generate results that will be impossible to challenge in court.

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“However, when people who should be participating in the process are the ones who hire buses, arrange thuggery, and send in the police and soldiers, the election process becomes expensive, complicated, and contentious.”

Abe, on the other hand, argued that a legitimate electoral process in Nigeria would change politicians’ attitudes.

“Politicians will behave differently in an election if they know their fate is based on the people’s choice,” he remarked. Direct primaries monitored by INEC are the way to go.”