Worried by what it terms as growing public commentaries on the alleged outrageous cost of conducting direct primaries, the House of Representatives has passed a resolution to invite the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mahmood Yakubu to brief the House on the cost of conducting direct primaries in the country.
The new ammendment to the electoral bill, awaiting president Mohammad Buhari’s assent, has continued to heat up the polity, particularly, as it is tending to cause friction between the National Assembly and some governors and likely implosion within the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC).
Already Buhari has swung into action by seeking opinions and inputs of some critical stakeholders, such as the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) and office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and ministry of justice, among others before either assenting or withholding his signature.
It was gathered that the governors are exploring various options to stop the new law, which, is seen as abbatross and affront to their imperial positions in the country, from seeing the light of the day.
But some analysts say the present move by the legislators may be a face-saving device to clevrrly make a u-turn as some of them are being threatened of serious repercussions by their governors, should they go ahead with overriding the president, should he withhold his assent.
However, the motion to invite the INEC boss was raised by Representative Leke Abejide who informed the House that it was important to address the rumours of the cost of the direct primaries.
The INEC Chairman is to appear before the Committees on Appropriations and Electoral Matters to speak on the issue.
Abejide said there are rumours that it will cost N500 billion to conduct direct primaries.
But responding, an analyst who pleaded anonymity sees the action of the legislators as an ‘afterthought and capable of further eroding the fast dwindling confidence in the 9th assembly.
“Are the members of house of reps just waking up to consider the cost implication, even after their speaker had come out stoutly to defend their position?. Anyway, it goes to confirm the quality of legislations by the present assembly and I will not be surprised if Senate, which sees Buhari as its political father, mentor and emperor, decides to device another ‘soft landing’ strategy for itself to jettison the bill.