Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has asked the member of the press to keep the pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the amended Electoral Act.
The governor argued that it was the media’s responsibility to educate Nigerians about the electronic transmission of the election results. He claimed doing so would “save” democracy in the nation.
“Who are those to benefit more if the direct primaries is conducted? Who are those to benefit more if it is indirect primaries?” the governor asked yesterday in Abuja at the event “Gold Prize for Exceptional Leadership,” held by the ThisNigeria Media Newspaper.
“So, it is important that Nigerians should know why there should be electronic transmission of result in order to save our democracy.”
Mr Wike warned that only when electoral processes are fair, those in authority can become accountable to the people, adding that accountable governance would not be realised when an electoral system permits security agencies to be manipulated to rig elections.
Also attending the event were the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.
Mr Wike also used the opportunity to urge the people of Nigeria to stand united regardless of their religious affiliations.
“There is the need for all of us to still believe that this country must be united,” he said. “But, if we want to move forward, we must drop the issue of where you come from. We must drop the issue of where you worship.”
