PDP Governors slam Buhari over delay to sign amended Electoral Act Bill  

The Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at a meeting in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State, on Monday slammed President Muhammadu Buhari over the delay to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill after being reviewed by the National Assembly the President request in his response in December 2021 to earlier passed bill.

The PDP Governors in a communique at the meeting “urged Mr. President to immediately sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law.” They argued, “Waiting to run out the 30 days is yet another sign of unwillingness by Mr. President to give Nigeria a reformed Electoral framework. If there are still misgivings on any aspect of the Bill Amendments may be introduced at a later stage.”

The Governors congratulated the PDP for winning 43 out of 62 Councillorship positions in the Abuja Area Council election in the FCT last Saturday. The governors noted that in spite of improvements in the conduct of elections, the Gwagwalada and Abuja Area Council results showed that manipulations are still possible. They urged INEC to tighten all observed loopholes and further improve the functioning of the BIVAS Machine for future elections.

The Governors expressed their displeasure on the issue of contaminated Fuel supplied to Nigerians and urged the government to bring perpetrators to account.

The communique read in full:

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE PDP GOVERNORS’ FORUM AT THE END OF THEIR MEETING IN YENAGOA   BAYELSA STATE

The PDP Governors’ Forum held its regular meeting on Monday, 14th February 2022, at the Bayelsa State Government House, Yenagoa.  The meeting reviewed once again the state of the nation, the readiness of the PDP to rescue the nation from APC misrule and issued the following Communique:

1. The PDP Governors urged Mr. President to immediately sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law. Waiting to run out the 30 days is yet another sign of unwillingness by Mr. President to give Nigeria a reformed Electoral framework. If there are still misgivings on any aspect of the Bill Amendments may be introduced at a later stage.
2. The Governors congratulated PDP for winning 43 out of 62 Councillorship positions in the Abuja Area Council election results, just concluded. Inspite of improvements in the conduct of elections, the Gwagwalada and Abuja Area Council results show that manipulations are still possible. They urged INEC to tighten all observed loopholes and further improve the functioning of the BIVAS Machine for future elections.
3. The Governors expressed their displeasure on the issue of contaminated Fuel supplied to Nigerians and urged the government to bring perpetrators to account.
4. The Governors frowned at the duplicity, inconsistency, insincerity of the APC-led Federal Government on the fuel subsidy regime, which has been badly and corruptly administered. The figures of consumption and ascribed to Nigerians appear fictitious and bloated. They called for a proper investigation to be conducted on this matter.
5. The Forum welcomed the Court decision on Police Trust Fund deductions from the Federation Account, a suit at the instance of Rivers State and urged the Federal Government to stop similar unconstitutional deductions from the Federation Account.

In the same vein, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission should expedite action on the new Revenue Allocation formula in such a way as to increase allocation to States and Local Government.

6. The Forum once again deplored the way and manner the CBN is being run as an alternate government, indeed, a government within a Government. It is time to streamline its functions and processes to be constitutionally compliant.
7. The Forum once again decried the opaque nature of NNPC operations. They called for accountability and reconciliation of NNPC remittances into the federation account.
8. As the National Assembly winds down this current phase of the Constitution Review exercise, the Forum urged that they revisit the issue of devolution of more powers to the States and Local Governments.

This opportunity to rejig the framework for policing and securing Nigeria should not be missed. To this end, the Forum would set up a Panel of Consultants to have a thorough look at the security architecture of Nigeria and make recommendations.

The Governors also urged the National Assembly to transfer some items from the Exclusive Legislative List to Concurrent List.

9. The PDP Governors congratulated His Excellency, Governor Douye Diri on his second anniversary in office as he has made a positive difference for the people of Bayelsa State. They thanked him for being such a gracious and wonderful host.

In attendance are:

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu                                    – Abia State         – Vice-Chairman

Gov. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri                         -Adamawa State     – Member

Gov. Udom Emmanuel                                  – Akwa Ibom State – Member

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Gov. Bala Mohammed                                   -Bauchi State     – Member

Gov. Sen. Douye Diri                                      – Bayelsa State – Member

Gov. Samuel Ortom                                        -Benue State    –  Member

Gov. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa                                   – Delta State    – Member

Gov. Godwin Obaseki                                    – Edo State       – Member

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi                                  – Enugu State   – Member

Gov. Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde               – Oyo State     – Member

Gov. Nyesom Wike, CON                              – Rivers State     – Member