From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted the proposed bill by the House of Representatives seeking to make voting in elections, by eligible Nigerians, mandatory in the country.
The National Chairman of the ADC, Chief Okey Nwosu, said enacting law to make voting mandatory is not the antidote to vote apathy in the country.
The House of Representatives is presently considering a bill to make voting by every Nigerian aged 18 years and above, during elections in the country, compulsory.
The proposed legislation, which is sponsored by the speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, as part of efforts to check voter apathy, prescribes not more than 6-month jail term or N100,000 fine for defaulters.
Regardless, Nwosu, who spoke during the signing of a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with three groups, Coalition for The Protection of Democracy (COPDEM), Justice Group and Farmers Club of Africa, at the weekend, in Abuja, said voter apathy in the country is caused by loss of faith in the electoral system.
According to him, “voter apathy is as a result of the attitude of our political leaders and the system we have in the country When people go out to cast their votes, it seems as if their votes doesn’t count, so they wonder why do we continue to vote.”
Nevertheless, the party chairman, who noted that the ADC is set to change the tide through effective mobilisation of voters and protecting the votes of the people, said the party is committed to building a broad based coalition that will change the political dynamics in the country.
He explained that the the signing of the MoU was part of efforts geared towards building a viable, resilient, people-centered political party that will stand the test of time.
“Our work in this regard is only continuing, but this time with renewed vigor. Collectively, we are going to move around to bring all patriotic progressive groups, members of civil societies, and political parties into one democratic redemption accord to leverage our country, Nigeria, and Africa,”.
“Our goal is to build a self-sustaining party with over 20 million members willing to pay their monthly membership dues of N500 and whose interests are not about self but Nigeria,” Nwosu stated.
