2011: Caucus option stirs push for automatic tickets
President Goodluck Jonathan welcoming former Gov of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu and other delegation of the Northern Political Summit -G20 during a solidarity visit to the President Villa Abuja on Monday. PHOTO: NAN SOME Federal legislators desperate to return to the National Assembly are pushing for a new clause in the Electoral Act 2010.
The "Right of First Refusal" is to guarantee Senators and Representatives automatic return tickets to the National Assembly.
It is all part of "a grand trade-off" planned by the lawmakers who are considering the Executive’s proposals on the Electoral Act’s amendments.
The Presidency is proposing the use of party caucus to choose candidates for the 2011 elections – a plan many have described as "evil" and "undemocratic".
The House may hold an executive session today to develop a template for the amendments to the Electoral Act.
Some Senators and Reps met yesterday in Abuja ahead of the consideration of the proposed amendments by the two chambers.
According to findings, the secret session came up with the idea of injecting "the Right of First Refusal" clause into the Electoral Act to guarantee automatic return tickets for all members of the National Assembly.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: "Since the Presidency wants party caucus primaries included in the Electoral Act as an option, the lawmakers are also out for a trade-off.
"Some Senators and House members are pushing for a clause in the Act, which will enable the political parties to allow an elected member of the National Assembly or State House of Assembly to be elected for three terms.
"And at every election period, a sitting Senator , Representative or a member of a House of Assembly will be given the Right of First Refusal to seek a return ticket, if he or she likes, before the seat is declared vacant by the concerned political party.
"If this clause sails through, all members of the National Assembly will be opportuned to seek automatic tickets as a matter of right. And whoever is not interested in coming back, his or her party can look for an alternative candidate."
This clause is being promoted by some National Assembly members to ensure the retention of good lawmakers and stability in the legislature, according to sources. But, a frontline politician described it as "putting democracy in reverse gear".
It was gathered that some National Assembly members are also disturbed that the nation had lost quality hands in the legislature following the high rate at which new members are elected into the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.
But another source said the proposal is being driven by selfish ambition.
He said: "I think this clause is being promoted to give some principal officers like the President of the Senate, the Senate Leader and the Speaker of the House of Representatives some leverage for 2011 polls.
"Some Senators and Reps are ready for a trade-off on the party caucus option. They said if the Presidency is trying to have its way on party caucus primaries, the legislature too must make its demand."
There were fears last night among politicians that such automatic tickets through "the backdoor may sound the death knell of democracy in Nigeria".
A member of the House said: "I don’t think the idea can work; some of us will resist it.
"We won’t allow any group of persons to make a mockery of our democracy."
The House may hold an Executive session before plenary today to review the amendments.
Although Speaker Dimeji Bankole announced to members that the session would hold, he was silent on the agenda.
A source said: "From all indications, I think the House may develop a template for the amendments."
Investigation also confirmed that some governors are not happy that party caucus may now determine their fate.
Despite the fact that some of the governors are in control of party machinery in their states, the National Executive Committee of a party has the final say on the nomination of candidates going by the provision of an "ambush" clause in Section 87 of the proposed amendments.
The Presidency has proposed amendments to Section 30(1); 31(1 and 8); Section 87 (2) and (5); Section 87(12(A and B); Section 87(13); and Section 134.
But of all the proposals, the introduction of "ambush clauses" for primaries in Section 87 have created tension within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), especially among the presidential aspirants.
In the 2010 Electoral Act assented to by the President, the National Assembly recommended direct and indirect primaries for the choice of candidates for elective offices.
Section 87 (1 and 2) reads: "A political party seeking to nominate candidates for election under this Act shall hold primaries to all elective positions.
"The procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions shall be by direct or indirect or party caucus primaries.
Section 87(11) and (12) (a and b) says: "Nothing in this section shall empower the courts to stop the holding of primaries or general election under this Act pending the determination of the suit.
"The National Executive Committee of a political party shall have the final decision in the nomination of candidates for the positions mentioned in this section.
"For the purpose of this section, the NEC of a political party shall in addition to the persons mentioned in the Constitution of the political party:- (i) Principal officers, chairmen, Vice-Chairmen of Standing Committees in the Senate (ii) Principal officers, chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of Standing Committees in the House of Representatives."
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