By Tony Adibe
As Nigerians prepare for the proposed General elections in 2027, a foundation Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a former Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu has reminded the political class of the need to take a second look at “Uwais Electoral Reform and Nigerians Debt Burden”.
Okechukwu said that without implementing the late Justice Muhammed Uwais Electoral Reform, Nigeria’s electoral process would not make significant progress. In a statement issued to journalists, wherein he expressed his condolences to the families of the three prominent Nigerians who joined their ancestors this season, Okechukwu declared:
“While calling on Almighty God to admit in his heavenly kingdom Nigeria’s legends – Chief Mike Ejeagha, Professor Jibril Aminu, and Muhammad Uwais, JSC.” He was, however, quick in agony to single out what he dubbed “Uwais Electoral Reform and Nigerian Debt Burden.”
Ikechukwu bemoaned the fact that 17 years down the line successive governments have “failed to implement the vital sections of the Uwais Electoral Reform Committee recommendations, with attendant collateral damages, multidimensional poverty, gross unemployment, huge debt burden, crass inequality and general insecurity.”
Okechukwu reminded the citizens that the Uwais Report was meant to “enhance a 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.”
The APC Chieftain argued 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.
He said 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 the same synergy with about 30 State Governors, as well as the overwhelming endorsement of Nigerians in this regard.”
