Implement electoral reform in honour of Uwais, Okechukwu tells FG
Founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu has appealed to the Federal Government to adopt and implement the recommendations of Justice Muhammadu Uwais Electoral Reform Committee in honour of the late Chief Justice of the country.
His appeal was contained in a statement in Abuja on Sunday to commensurate the passing away of legal icon, Chief Mike Ejeagha and former Minister of Education, Prof. Jibril Aminu.
Shortly after the 2007 general elections, former President Umaru Musa Yar’adua set up the Justice Muhammadu Uwais Electoral Reform Committee following malpractices that marred the election.
The report of the committee, which was submitted in 2008, recommended sweeping reforms on order to ensure the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission, curbing electoral fraud, and strengthening democratic.
The former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) lamented the non-implementation of the recommendations of the committe 17 years after by successive administrations.
He noted: “The Uwais Report was meant to enhance higher percentage of voters participation, reduce electoral malpractices and engender free, fair, credible and transparent elections, and most importantly, the public nomination of chairmen and members of electoral commissions at the national and state level.”
Okechukwu submitted that the best tribute to Justice Uwais is to posthumously adopt and implement the fine tenets of his report, as the only politically correct solution of restoration of democracy and global recognition.
He appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of urgent national importance, muster the political will and clear the Uwais debt burden by amending the constitution, albeit to make public appointments of chairmen and members of both national and state electoral commissions mandatory.
Okechukwu opined that “not only will the amendment consolidate local government financial autonomy, in addition Almighty God has graciously obliged Mr President all the necessary arsenal viz, cordial relationship with the National Assembly and same synergy with about 30 State Governors, as well as the overwhelming endorsement of Nigerians in this regard.”
The APC chieftain prayed for the repose of the former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Uwais, Chief Mike Ejeagha and former Minister of Education, Prof. Jibril Aminu.
