APC Delaying Electoral Bill To Manipulate 2023 Elections - Wike

Wike while speaking in an interview with Channels TV said the delay in the passage of the bill is the plan of the APC to influence forthcoming elections in the country.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari declined assent to the bill three times while it was introduced in the eighth national assembly under the leadership of Bukola Saraki.

The bill which was reintroduced in the ninth senate has witnessed a series of postponements.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission, Kabiru Gaya, earlier this month said the electoral act amendment bill will be passed by the national assembly in the second quarter of 2021.

Wike in his reaction said he is surprised the President has not shown interest in the passage of the bill by the national assembly.

According to him, the electoral bill will ensure that there are credible elections in 2023, adding that the APC is scared of credible and fair polls.

"This government does not want to give Nigeria credible elections in 2023. Why will they want to give Nigeria a credible election in 2023? They know very clearly that with the way things stand today, Nigerians have lost confidence in this government.ÔÇØ

"No reasonable Nigerian will say I want this APC government to come back in 2023. And therefore, what we do to make sure there is no credible election is to make sure we do not allow this amendment of the electoral act that ought to give us a credible, free and fair election.ÔÇØ

"So that they will be able to manipulate the 2023 elections. It is very clear. I'm surprised Mr President will not even champion it to say 'look I promised Nigeria that one thing I must leave in office even before anything'; 'I must give Nigeria, free and credible elections.

"You see, national assembly, they say one thing here today, one thing here tomorrow. All these things are strategies of the ruling party to deny Nigerians in 2023 of having a free, fair and credible election.ÔÇØ