A group, Civic Consciousness Initiative (CCI) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to shun all excuses and sign the Electoral Bill into law.
The group said this would be a great gift Buhari would offer to Nigerians as he marks his birthday in a few days to come.
It also urged the president to encourage all political parties to adopt digital ideas that would improve internal democracy.
CCI said these in a statement signed by its Chairman, Prof Idowu Sobowale and Secretary, Rev Dr Julius Odofin.
A copy of the statement was made available to SaharaReporters on Thursday.
It partly read, “We, the undersigned, on behalf of the Civic Consciousness Initiative, a group of Eminent Nigerian Eiders of the Christian faith, retired clergy and other professionals like who have made their contributions to the building of our country through service to the Body of Christ and patriotic stewardship to the nation.
“Our service is to the nation at creating awareness for public right and responsibility of public knowledge; this duty we owe to just the public but our Government.
“We hereby call Your Excellency to rise above the partisan, unpopular and narrow political interests of a few politicians, to immediately assent the Electoral Act 2010 (Amendment) 2021 Bill, hereafter referred to as “Electoral Bill into law.
“Your Excellency, as you celebrate your birthday in a few days on 17th December, 2021, history beckons on you to present the signed the signed Electoral Bill 2021 as a perfect gift to Nigerians.
“This is indeed a glorious opportunity for you, Mr. President to etch your name in Nigeria’s democratic plate as an advocate of electoral reforms.
“As you may recall, Your Excellency in June 2021, you promised Nigerians and made a commitment to the independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) that we will make available to them (INEC) everything including signing the Electoral Act 2921) they need to operate efficiently, so that no one will say we don’t want to go, or that we want a third term. You equally summed this up vowing that “There will be no excuse for failure. We will meet all of INEC demands.”
