The New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) has expressed strong opposition to a recent bill introduced in the Senate that aims to establish a Local Government Election Commission. Party officials argue that this legislation poses a serious threat to democracy in Nigeria.
The bill, officially titled the “Local Government Independent Electoral Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2024,” is sponsored by Senator Sani Musa, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.
It has successfully passed its first reading in the Senate and seeks to create an independent body responsible for organizing, overseeing, and conducting elections for Local Government Chairmen and Councillors in all states.
Ladipo Johnson, the National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, voiced significant concerns regarding the motivations behind the bill. He stated that it is inconceivable for lawmakers to propose such a measure without considering its implications for democratic governance.Johnson emphasized that the plan to establish a federal agency to manage local elections undermines the integrity of the electoral process.
He further elaborated that by granting federal powers to this new commission, the bill risks exacerbating the already chaotic and crisis-prone nature of elections in Nigeria.
“This legislation will not serve its intended purpose; rather, it will threaten what remains of our beleaguered democracy,” he warned.
Johnson criticized the pattern of behavior among some politicians who appear to be pushing for measures that serve specific negative objectives.
He characterized the Senate’s proposal as a dangerous move that could lead to widespread abuse of power, particularly by federal authorities.The NNPP spokesperson pointed to the troubling perception of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has faced consistent criticism regarding its handling of elections.
This includes public dissatisfaction with both the general election and the recent Edo State governorship election.
He argued that these issues highlight the inadequacies of INEC and demonstrate that creating a new federal agency is not a viable solution to the country’s electoral problems.
Instead, Johnson called for a fundamental change in the attitudes and practices of those involved in the electoral process. He believes that the focus should be on reforming existing institutions rather than establishing new ones that may be prone to misuse.
In light of these concerns, Johnson urged Nigerians to unite against the bill and actively protest its passage into law. He stressed that this is an urgent matter that requires the attention and involvement of all opposition parties.
The NNPP’s call to action underscores the belief that safeguarding democracy requires vigilance and participation from citizens and political groups alike.
“We must stand together to protect our democracy from threats that come in the form of misguided legislation,” he stated.
