The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent to the long-awaited electoral bill into law as historic.
The Executive Director of the center, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani in a statement on Friday and made available to newsmen in Kano, said the role of the National Assembly, Media, CSO and Nigerians leading to the collective success on having a new amendment to the electoral Act is also very commendable.
He said President Buhari has fulfilled his obligations by upholding the values of democracy and assenting the electoral bill, adding that this would guarantee INEC's financial independence, which in turn would ensure the electoral umpire gets early funding on time to prepare for election.
“Initially, we reduced the conversation of the bill to direct and indirect primaries, but it’s a lot more.
"If you think about early funding for the election? This electoral act provides funding for election to the electoral commission at least a year before the election.
“Why is that important, if you think about the conduct of elections, postponement of elections that we had in 2019, 2015, even 2011 were attributed to issues around elections operations and logistics management.
"So, when INEC receives the funds early, it gives better time to plan," said Rafsanjani.
"The bill has provisions that address multiple voting and voting by proxy, as well as tampering with election results at the results collation centers.
"It will also give INEC the exclusive rights and independence to review results announced under duress.
"In other words, the bill bars politicians from influencing or harassing polling officials from declaring fabricated results."
Rafsanjani also appealed to Nigerians to comply with the electoral law.
He called on civil society organizations and the media not to relent in fighting for social justice as only then would we able to achieve the Nigeria of our dreams.
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