The National Assembly members who are against the required electronic transmission of election results have come under heavy criticism from Adewole Adebayo, a former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who has characterised their stance as a danger to democracy in Nigeria.
Following the Senate’s rejection of an amendment to Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill—an amendment that would have mandated the electronic transmission of election results—Adebayo responded on Monday’s Politics Today on Channels Television.
Recent public reactions to the judgement have been characterised as agitation, he said, calling them a “warm-up” and a “fashion parade.” He went on to suggest that Nigerians were already rallying to protect democracy across the country.
He argues that democracy is fundamental to the well-being, respect, and advancement of Nigerians and ranks it higher than material prosperity, political power, or ambition.
The former SDP leader raised concerns about what he saw as a conflict of interest on the part of the administration, pointing out that although they assert a tough stance against coup plotters, MPs are given the green light to dismantle the people’s will through legislation.
Anger, he clarified, was not his intention. Consider that a warm-up. Please know that I beseech the Almighty God to help us work out this problem. It was more like a fashion show than agitation.
The trip from Lagos was short. Look, we’re all plotting something. Democracy is more essential to me than becoming president, so everyone is preparing all around the country.
This democracy is more important than being a billionaire or anything else in the world to me because it gives Black men a place to call home, where they can be free to pursue their passions, raise a family, and show the world what we can do when we unite. True democracy is that.
Coup plotters were apprehended, according to the same administration. Concern swept across the group. I was summoned to this studio by you.
Those that plot a coup will face consequences in this country, as we were talking. The presence of coup plotters in the National Assembly undermines the will of the Nigerian people; why are we working with them? The concept of representative government is crucial.