…SAYS NIGERIAN NOW ARMED TO VOTE OUT BAD LEADERS
DIRECTOR General of Voice of Nigeria, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, commended President Muhammadu Buhari, members of the National Assembly, Attorney General of the Federation, and Civil Society Organisation for the assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Okechukwu said the coming into force of Electoral Act 2022 marks a significant turning point in Nigeria’s journey towards electoral reforms.
He said that the Act now adds value to the vote of Nigerians in indeed empowers them to vote out bad leaders.
He said it would reinforce democratic rights, higher voters turn out and consolidation of democracy.
The VON DG stressed that by signing the bill into law, the President has given lovers of democracy a booster shot of ‘Vote-Rigging-Vaccine.’
He noted that “contrary to insinuations by naysayers, who like Joseph Goebbels of Nazi Germany, kept on telling the big lie and fake news that Buhari will not sign the bill and those who believed them, the President has proved them wrong by endorsing the VRV, a crucial piece of electoral legislation.”
Okechukwu, a founding member of All Progressives Congress, said through the strokes of his signature-pen on the bill, President Buhari has bequeathed to Nigerians an Electoral Act that empowers the deployment of the Smart Card Reader, Biometric Voter Accreditation System, and other technological devices for electoral fidelity.
“By virtue of the Electoral Act 2022, the VRV offers electronic accreditation and electronic transmission of results. These voters empowerment machine combine to revolutionise free, fair and transparent elections in Nigeria.
“Electronic Transmission of result is the key element in the Act and will automatically boost voters turn out to 60% in future elections.
“Electronic Transmission (VRV) is the lofty milestone and indeed, comes as one of the progressive legacies of Mr President who, as a victim of vote-rigging has always craved for law instrument that contains progressive provisions to knock out thuggery during accreditation, voting and collation processes.
“By consolidating the power of votes to count and transparently so counted, President Buhari has finally empowered the people to come out in large numbers to choose their leaders without interference of the dreaded Money Bags.”
The DG VON expressed the hope that from henceforth, Nigerians will be less attracted by stomach infrastructure or vote buying and need not protest or demonstrate against misrule.
He maintained that with the Electoral act strengthened by the black ink of the law, Nigerians can now troop out to the voting booths on Election Day with confidence to vote out bad leaders.
Okechukwu also appeals to INEC to put its acts together so as to give life to Act, which he described the ultimate instrument of Voters Empowerment and democratic resurgence in Nigeria.
For political parties, he cautioned them to beware for Buhari’s VRV is a searchlight on their commitment to internal democracy and building of a united and inclusive country.
