…Demand Probe of NDDC Accounts, Release of Forensic Audit Report
The Ijaw Youths Council Worldwide with membership drawn from the Nine States in the oil rich Niger Delta region has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the signing of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill which is now the Electoral Act Amendment Act, 2022.
The group described the President’s action as commendable and a show of commitment to credible elections come 2023.
The IYC also noted that the commitment shown by President Muhhamdu Buhari towards the signing of the Electoral Act Amended Bill should be replicated to other areas such as the need for the setting up of the substantive Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC).
The Spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, in a statement on Tuesday said that Buhari has bequeathed a beautiful legacy to posterity with the signing of the Act.
Ekerefe pointed out that all hands must be on deck for the full implementation of the content of the Electoral Act before, during and after the 2023 elections.
He said, “We must ensure that it is not just the transmission of election results alone, but the transmission of the accredited results. There should be two transmissions, the first stage of the battle has been won, and we must now prepare for stage two.”
He said, ”The decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Act, 2022, is commendable and remains the finest legacy the government would leave behind in view of the strong desire of Nigerians for our electoral process to be strengthened.
“Among other important provisions, this Electoral Act reviews timelines for election activities. For instance, the new Act requires the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Notice of Election not later than 360 days to the next General Election.
“We salute INEC in-line with the new provisions of the Act for issuing a notice of election and new dates for the 2023 general elections announced. This underscores our faith that INEC is prepared.
“Again, INEC should quickly mobilize political parties, security agencies, civil society organizations and the electorates through every means available for proper understanding and awareness of the new electoral Act.”
The council stated that, “A free, fair, credible and generally acceptable election is the beauty of constitutional democracy. Nigerians yearn for improved electoral process ahead of the 2023 general election.”
Ekerefe stressed that the President’s action has also showed that all hope is not yet lost as the Niger Delta people will continue to demand for the immediate setting up of the NDDC substantive board, the publishing of the Forensic audit report and the probe of the NDDC accounts between October 2021 and Febuary, 2022.
He also called on the President to intervene in the the East-west road which serves as the economic nexus of the Niger Delta region.”