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More opposition parties have condemned the proposed
amendment of the Electoral Act 2010 to include members of the National
Assembly in the National Executive Committee (NEC) of their respective
parties.

Two separate bills are currently before the Senate
and the House of Representatives seeking the amendment of Section 87 of
the Act to make the 469 federal lawmakers part of the NECs of their
parties. The NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the 63
recognised parties.

While sending goodwill message to the Muslims in the
country on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the Citizens
Popular Party (CPP) said the proposed law is an attempt to undermine
the democratic process.

A statement by the CPP’s national chairman, Maxi
Okwu, said the bill, which has scaled through second reading in both
chambers, is not only provocative, but an affront on the collective
will of the people. It asked Nigerians to resist the bill because it is
self-serving.

“CPP condemns the National Assembly attempt to
undermine our democratic process by pushing for a Bill that will make
them automatic members of the National Executive Committee of their
respective political parties,” the statement said.

The party also called on all eligible Nigerians to
participate in the January 2011voter registration, stating that a
credible voter register is the foundation of a transparent and
acceptable election. It added that the 2011 polls will provide
Nigerians another opportunity to vote for credible, purposeful, and
responsible candidates who will govern the country with the fear of God.

Also in a statement yesterday by its national
chairman, Ngozi Emioma, the Nigerian People Congress (NPC), condemned
the proposed bill, describing its introduction as legislative
rascality. It noted that while Nigerians are yet to recover from the
huge pay rise the lawmakers got, they are planning to impose themselves
on their parties as members of the NECs.

“It is outrageous and should be condemned and stopped
before our legislators turn themselves to tyrants and oppressors of the
people they were elected to serve,” Mr. Emioma said.

The NPC national chairman asked the lawmakers to withdraw the bill
immediately, just as he reminded them that leadership is a serious
responsibility and the distraction must stop. The party, which
congratulated Muslims on the celebration of Eid-El-Kabir, urged
“Nigerians to use this occasion, which coincides with the country’s
Golden Jubilee and the forthcoming general elections, for sober
reflection and prayers for a united and prosperous democratic nation.”