SDP Commends Buhari, Says New Electoral Act a Creditable Game-Changer

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The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has described the new electoral act as a much desired game-changer to reduce the negative influence of appalling electoral fraud that has blighted the country’s potential for greatness to the barest minimum.

In a statement issued by the national publicity secretary of the party, Ambassador Rufus Aiyenigba, in Abuja on Monday, SDP recognized its own frontline role in vigorously engaging the process and making significant contributions to the advocacy that culminated in the signing of the bill by the President.

The party commended President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to the new electoral Bill, and considers the new Electoral Act as a notable milestone towards deepening and strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.

SDP also congratulated the National Assembly, civil society groups, the media and Nigerians for their various efforts that led to the feat.

“Mindful that credible election forms an important element and constitutes the chief pillar and cornerstone for building and entrenching in our national life, a decent democratic culture as a people; conscious of the need to safeguard the integrity of our electoral processes and systems, and the necessity to continue to push the frontiers of our national quest towards building a good Nigerian society, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) commends President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for signing into law, the 2022 Electoral Bill to replace the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

“The historic and positive development of delivering by this administration (in the twilight of its life) of a new Electoral Act which is largely acclaimed as being reformed and progressive in content and intendements, and which together with the 1999 Constitution, constitute a body of principal law to administrate and regulate the conduct of elections in Nigeria, effective 2023 general election, will certainly impact our elections positively and significantly.

“It serves as the much-desired game-changer to reduce to the barest minimum, if not completely ending the negative influence of appalling electoral frauds in our polity which have over the years, undermined our collective national interest, unjustifiably benefited many of the political elites and sadly arrested national development and blighted our country’s potential for greatness.

“As a national political party that is committed to the promotion of the true interest of Nigeria, the SDP recognizes that this is a momentous achievement for Mr President-one that will remain indelible in the annals of our political history as a nation, and perhaps, could be considered as the finest bequest of his administration to national development and the promotion of the true interest of the nation. It is not debatable that this is one right executive action that places the President on the side of the Nigerian people,” the statement read.

Aiyenigba noted that the key provisions of the new Electoral Act are well-thought out.

He said the new Act is a master-stroke that is capable of reinforcing Nigeria’s democracy by providing the essential strong buffers against election rigging and the general delinquencies that have characterized our electoral processes.

“The SDP acknowledges that Mr. President, by his assenting to this all-important Bill, has demonstrated admirable courage, commendable sense of history, a remarkable element of statecraft and true commitment to deepening the nation’s democracy by creating the enabling ambience for the age-long desired reforms of our electoral systems. This is certainly a plus fro his image as a true democrat and a responsive leader.

“The party specially recognizes its own role in consistently campaigning for electoral reforms, and in pushing for the signing of the Bill by the President. It commend the patriotic and concerted efforts made by many Nigerians, particularly all the critical segments of the Nigerian society and key stakeholders who unrelentingly, consistently and strongly pushed for, and saw to it that the signing of the Bill became a reality.

“This 9th National Assembly and the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) are also commended for rising patriotically to the occasion to get this done. There are now, greater assurances that going forward, elections will matter in Nigeria, and the votes of Nigerians will count in deciding who their leaders and representatives are.”

While reiterating that the SDP will remain determinedly committed to its social democratic ideology and the promotion of social justice and good governance, particularly as the party is getting primed to provide the much-desired credible political direction alternative for Nigerian ahead of the next general election, Ambassador Aiyeniba acknowledged that the new Electoral Act has finally and significantly opened new vistas of hope for an era of credible elections in our nation.

“Considering that eternal vigilance is said to be the price for freedom, the people must rise up to secure the derivable freedom from the new Electoral Act through right and positive actions. It is important for citizens to resolve to take their destiny in their own hands by securing the wholesome sovereignty and civil liberty which this new Electoral Act brings, now that it is guaranteed that they can freely decide their leaders by themselves through an uncompromised ballot box.”

The party called on all Nigerians to warmly embrace this positive development by enthusiastically committing to imbibing right attitude and mindset about elections as being the power they have for achieving desirable social change; by doing the needful in order to consolidate the gains thereof, and strengthen the democratic process by performing well, their civic responsibilities of registering to vote and ensuring that they turn out to vote during elections to freely decide by themselves, their leaders and representatives.

“The party recognizes and appreciates that the provisions of the new Electoral Act, the newly introduced Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and other new innovations which have been introduced by INEC in recent times to revolutionize and add credibility value to our elections and to scale up the capacity of the Commission for credible service delivery.

“All of the foregoing, combine to ensure that going forward, elections will matter in Nigeria and the votes of Nigerians will count in future elections. God helping us, Nigeria will from now be on an assured right path of socio-political and economic prosperity when we get the process of electing right leaders of their choice is secured.”


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