Electoral Act: Direct primaries aimed at strengthening our democracy, says Gbajabiamila

Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, says the introduction of direct primaries in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill “is to strengthen the nation’s democracy”.
The Speaker said this in a remark at the resumption of plenary for the 2022 legislative year on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Bill was rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari due to the direct mode of primaries imposed on political parties.
“Let it be clear to all that our only objective in introducing that provision was to strengthen the foundations of our democracy so that it works for all of our people.
“The process by which political parties nominate candidates for election is essential, perhaps even just as important as the general election itself.
“A primary nomination process that deprives the majority of party members of the opportunity to choose who represents them in the general elections is susceptible to bad outcomes and ought to be fixed,” he said.
He said that though some have argued that political parties do not have proper registers of their members, which was a reason to reject the direct primary option.
He, however, noted that such assertion was an appalling admission that political parties in the country do not have credible and up to date registers of their members.
He wondered how political parties had managed their affairs, including conducting congresses and primary elections, whether by direct or indirect means.
He stated that not maintaining a proper register of members violated the spirit of the constitution.
He added that it made it impossible for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce the constitutional requirements for political parties to ensure that their membership reflected the federal character of Nigeria.
“Nonetheless, it is disappointing that the failure of political parties to adequately document their membership is being used to deny the Nigerian people the power to fully participate in our nation’s politics.
“If nothing else, including a direct primary mandate in the law, will have forced political parties to properly register their members within the shortest possible time,” he said.
He added that it would have been the singular most significant reform of the nation’s political party system in a generation.