Bayelsa Governorship Aspirant, Romeo Bekeyei, urges Buhari to sign Electoral Bill

By Tony Okechukwu

Ahead of Baylesa and Kogi States governorship election, an aspirant for the Bayelsa State governorship election, Romeo Bekeyei, has called on President Muhammadu to sign the electoral bill into law to avoid manipulation of the states election.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Romeo Bekeyei, expressed worry over the controversy that trailed the transmission of election results to the server of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, during the last general election.

Bekeyei, who is also a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Campaign Organisation, noted that signing the electoral Bill into law would help to check a repeat of what happened during the presidential, governorship, national and state assemblies’ elections.

He pointed out that “the heavy militarisation of the elections would not be necessary when the Bill is signed into law as it would help to check manipulation and other vices associated with elections.”

The aspirant further noted that countries in the world have moved on, while Nigeria is still trying to get it right, adding that enabling laws would help the country to walk the part of progress.
                               
He insisted that amended electoral law would help the nation to compete with other nations of the world in terms of election, as Nigeria is ripe for electronic voting and other associating packages that come with the law.
                         
Bekeyei, who carved a niche for himself in conflict resolution and risk management having played frontline roles of security enhancement and peace building, especially in the West African sub-region, noted that signing the Bill into law would not only help to check manipulation of results, but would also address vote buying, stealing of ballot boxes and invasion of collation centres by thugs.

The PDP Bayelsa Governorship aspirant was a Media and Communications Aide on the Presidential Amnesty Programme, State House, Abuja; served as Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs to the African Representative of World Assembly of Youths, as well as Coordinator of Youths on Community-Based Organizations (CBO), under the Office of Special Assistant to the Governor of Bayelsa State (2006-2007).