Onuesoke Appeals To Buhari Not To Tamper With Section 84 (12) Of Electoral Act

Sunny Onuesoke

“A Legislature that passed a Bill does not go back to amend it after it has been signed into law by the Executive. The Bill is already a Law (An Act). Its place is now in the Gazette.” Onuesoke.

Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has been appealed upon, to rescind his decision on the deletion of Section 84 (12) of the newly amended Electoral Act Bill.

This appeal was from a former gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Sunny Okpako Onuesoke; a consistent advocate for good governance and sustainable leadership growth and development for all Nigerians.

The PDP Chieftain, in a recent statement, recalled that President Buhari had, after signing the amended Electoral Act bill on Friday, suggested to the National Assembly that the part which states “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the Convention or Congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election,” should be deleted because it would disenfranchise some eligible Nigerians.

The President believes that section 84 (12) if signed into law, subjects serving political office holders to inhibitions and restrictions referred to under sections 40 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

However, Onuesoke in the statement on Thursday, appealed to Buhari to withdraw his decision of deletion of the clause stressing that if political office holders or other categories of appointees resigned before partaking in electoral activities, it will give a level playing ground for all.

The PDP chieftain observed that resigning their appointments would prevent unnecessary distractions, side influence and help such appointees focus on their ambitions.

“To me, an appointee should not remain in office and allowed to use his office to influence his political ambitions or those of his benefactors. This will be an undue advantage over other contestants. It’s akin to eating your cake while still having it. Besides, how can an appointee effectively carry out his official duties while campaigning for election at the same time?

“Section 84 (12) of the Amended Electoral Act Bill should be left intact for a future government to “amend” if tested and found to be a cheating to government officials,” he stated.

Onuesoke explained that the Bill has been passed by the Legislatures and accented to by the Executive and as such, it has come to stay.

“A Legislature that passed a Bill does not go back to amend it after it has been signed into law by the Executive. The Bill is already a Law (An Act). Its place is now in the Gazette,” he stressed.

He further argued that the “only constitutional expectation placed on serving political office holders that qualify, by extension, as public officers within the context of the constitution is resignation, withdrawal or retirement at least 30 days before the date of the election.

“Heaven wouldn’t fall if they were to resign from office as stipulated by that section of the newly passed electoral law before they could be eligible to vote and be voted for in party congresses and conventions. Nigeria should be a country for all, not a country as dictated by few,” Onuesoke explained.

Culled from Independent