The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has faulted some of the reasons given by President Muhammadu Buhari for withholding assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

Its Chairman Mr Debo Adeniran, who spoke in Lagos at a briefing, said it was unfathomable that the president, knowing that he was not likely to assent to the bill, delayed it for that length of time.

“If he had given a hint, a lot of consultations and further clarifications would have been made to him by the sponsors of the bill and concerned public during the grace period that he had to assent to the passed bill.

“Unfortunately, he didn’t do that and that is not a good democratic practice,” he said.

CACOL believes direct primary, which the President rejected, is more democratic.

“We don’t believe that hand-picked delegates should impose their will on the generality of membership of a political party.

“The principle of equality of membership should hold sway at the level of political parties.

“It is unnecessary for the president to take it upon himself to canvass on behalf of smaller parties knowing fully well that by virtue of the law that guides formation and registration of political parties in Nigeria, no political party is expected to be small as far as the existing law is concerned,” the group said.

“There ought to be ideological leanings for all political parties so that whoever is voting knows the kind of government that will be formed at the end of the election,” it said.

“What we expected is that the new amended law would include safeguards that will make it compulsory for political parties to ensure that anti-corruption agenda will be prioritised.

“An anti-corruption policy has to be clearly stated on how the party feels that anti-corruption war should be fought, and if they form government, how they are going to wage the war against corruption,” CACOL said.

The group said there was the need for increased sensitisation on anti-corruption and accountability in elections at the grassroots.

CACOL added: “The anti-graft body, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should be involved in electoral process for screening of candidates who want to contest for an electoral office to ensure his integrity and incorruptibility.

“The media need to increase their reportage and investigations on corruption and accountability issues before, during and after elections period.

“Civil society groups should embark on massive civic awareness of the electorate on the dangers of corruption in electoral process and its impacts on their future.

“Political parties must be engaged to mainstream anti-corruption and accountability into their manifestos and Activities.

“There is an urgent need to amplify the voices of the people at the grassroots because most of them do not even have access to their elected representatives once they are sworn in.

“We call on all the political parties to redress this anomaly and try as much as possible to incorporate these marginalised set of people into the scheme of things in their various political parties.

“We urge Mr. President to assent to the new electoral reform bill which consists of the e-transmission of results and direct primary.

“We are afraid that the controversy and cacophony of voices over direct primary may wittingly or unwittingly scuttle the entire Electoral Bill, and thus throw away the baby with the bath water.”