Story JONATHAN LOIS
The African Parliamentary Advocacy and Reform Group (APARG) has expressed concern about what appears to a deliberate suppression and low interest in the National Assembly Campaigns by the media and other stakeholders.
The group said whereas the media platforms are saturated with the Presidential Campaign Rallies and media engagements with presidential candidates and their policy documents in all the political affairs programs of the major media organizations in Nigeria, little or no attention has been channeled towards the electoral campaigns for the National Assembly elections.
The Team Lead, Amb. Chibuzo Okereke, and CEO CODE Partner, Hamza Lawal, said this in a press conference on the state of the National Assembly elections.
He said it was important to state that the National Assembly elections are as important as the presidential elections.
“The legislature is as important as the Executive arm of government. The National Assembly Members do not only perform constituency representation and service functions, they also perform important national functions of lawmaking, oversight, confirmations, loan approvals, policy interventions, foreign relations, quasi-judicial functions and Treaties domestication, etc. But over the years, election reports of several accredited observer groups and the Media have shown near complete disinterest for the National Assembly electoral campaigns and elections.
“We have therefore, observed with grave concern that there are no clear and articulated national issues on the ballot for the National Assembly elections. Accordingly, National Assembly candidates make ultra-varies promises on the campaign trail that are outside their constitutional mandates thereby promoting excessive clientelistic relationship with voters, which often creates undue burden on the country’s governance systems. This is a challenge that we believe can be solved through a strategic mass enlightenment campaigns and public education of the electorates across the constituencies.
“We therefore, call on the National and Community print and electronic Media Organizations, and all relevant stakeholders to use the remaining 15 days campaign window to focus attention and consummate publicity on National Assembly elections to highlight the important facts that no President in a constitutional democracy can successfully implement its policy agenda without the presence of a functional, knowledgeable and consenting National Assembly.
“We strongly believe that this is what will help to deepen Nigeria’s democracy and legitimately popularize the constitutional functions of the National Assembly and also prepare incoming legislators for the important task of exercising their legislative powers and privileges to address national development issues for the common good of the Nigerian people beyond the struggle for clientelistic constituency relations” he said.
The group said the National Assembly is both the symbol and an important governance institution that mirrors the democratic character of a nation state
They said, “On Saturday, February 25, 2023, precisely 17 days from today, eligible Nigerians will gather in the 176,876 Polling Units across the federation of Nigeria to exercise their democratic rights to elect a new President for the country.
“On the same day in line with the INEC Time-table, voters will cast their ballots to elect to office, the 109 Members of the Senate and 360 Members of the House of Representatives, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who will form the 10th National Assembly and exercise legislative powers on behalf of the people of Nigeria and their various constituencies.
“The African Parliamentary Advocacy and Reform Group- APARG, notes that the National Assembly is both the symbol and an important governance institution that mirrors the democratic character of a nation state. Therefore, priority interest and active participation of voters in the election of the National Assembly Members is crucial to Nigeria’s democracy development and democratic consolidation.
“The outlook of the 2023 National Assembly elections according to INEC report, shows that about 1,101 Candidates are vying for the 109 Senate Seats. While 3, 122 Candidates are vying for the 360 Seats of the House of Representatives. The records highlight the degree of competiveness of National Assembly elections in Nigeria with an average of 9 Candidates to one seat, representing 50% of the total number of Candidates expected on the ballot per seat.
“Similarly, the 2023 National Assembly elections like the Presidential election will be held amidst growing insecurity concerns, economic hardships arising from the currency swap policy of government, high inflation, humongous national debts burden and towering youths unemployment etc. But more importantly, the elections will be held under the new BVAS and IREV technology and Electoral Act regime.
“Also, according to the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) report, the National Assembly elections continues with worrying levels of high legislative turnover of about 80% from the outcomes of the Parties Primaries. These multi-dimensional challenges has significant potential to escalate the already characteristic low voter turnout and other incidental implications associated with Legislative Elections and the operation of the legislature in Nigeria.
“While we note with interest the efforts of the INEC, the Media and other stakeholders to deliver a free, fair, transparent, peaceful and credible elections.”
