Public say no to bill

A resounding ‘no’ from an array of stakeholders has greeted an attempt by federal lawmakers to legislate their way into the leadership councils of their various parties.

Virtually every member of the public who attended a public hearing on the proposed bill Monday, at a meeting room of the House of Representatives in Abuja, opposed the proposal to make almost every lawmaker a member of their party’s National Executive Committee.

From the chairman of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to women organisations, attendees criticised the legislation as contrary to its stated intent, which is to bring the internal democracy to party leadership structures.

PDP chairman, Okwesili Eze Nwodo, denounced the proposed law as a naked power grab. If lawmakers pass the law, it will give them excessive influence in decision making in the PDP,” he said.

Mr. Nwodo pointed out that 48 lawmakers already are present on his 64-member NEC, and any addition would mean its complete hijack by the legislative caucus.

“We want a balance in NEC that will not swallow the elected members of NEC. If we have a volume that swallows it, it will affect debates in our NEC,” Mr. Nwodo said.

He also urged the lawmakers to drop the bill because currently, it is the party’s convention that is the highest decision making body of the party, instead of the proposed NEC.

Although the 2010 electoral act amendment bill is not all about making the lawmakers members of their party’s NEC, most members of the public focused on this particular provision on the proposed structure and composition of NECs.

Maxi Okwu, leader of the Forum of National Chairmen of Political Parties, which comprises about 14 smaller parties, also opposed the provision. He described it as “untidy” and urged the lawmakers to desist from making such laws.

He argued that even though the lawmakers reserve the right to make laws for the nation, they should discard that aspect of the amendment because it will make the governance of all political parties uniform, bringing back the military regimentation which Nigerians dread.

“This uniformity is a military hangover. We are seeking that you leave parties to run themselves; you cannot regiment it, it won’t work!” ,” Mr. Okwu said.

He argued that widening the scope of political party’s NEC should be an exclusive preserve of the parties and the composition of NECs should also be left to the parties.

Notwithstanding the mounting opposition in the conference room and protests by different groups outside the Assembly complex against the bill, the lawmakers stood their ground, arguing that of all the parties that have representatives in the National Assembly, only two do not currently have their lawmakers as members of their NEC.

Both chambers of the National Assembly are expected to consider the positions of the public and make their final decision within a fortnight.