Posted by By Moyo Fabiyi on
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has suggested a two-party system for the nation, as part of the ongoing constitutional review effort of the National Assembly.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has suggested a two-party system for the nation, as part of the ongoing constitutional review effort of the National Assembly.
In a paper to the political reform panel, the umbrella body for christians in Nigeria said for security to return to the polity, there should be two or maximum of five political parties.
While noting that all the political parties we have now lacked ideological stance and were not issues driven, CAN called for the establishment of a political parties' commission that will be charged with the responsibility of moderating the activities of political parties in the country.
In the paper, signed by CAN President, Most Rev. John Onaiyekan, and Director of Planning, Research and Strategy, Rev. R.B.C. Nwankwo, CAN condemned acts of lawlessness by the ruling class whom it accused of denying the people their right to elect their leaders.
To forestall stealing the people's mandate, CAN said the president and state governors should be stripped of their powers to constitute the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).
CAN argued that the power to constitute INEC and the SIECs should be given to the people through the national and state assemblies. CAN said funding for the body should also be independent of the president and governors.
Commending the judiciary for its role so far in the current political dispensation, CAN called for a legislative intervention in the internal affairs of the political parties such that they will conduct themselves within the tenets of democracy.
The christian group advised that credible civil society organisations be given legal backing to monitor electoral processes unhindered, stressing that INEC's refusal to give accreditation to groups such as the NBA, NLC, CLO etc. to monitor elections should be discouraged.
CAN also made a case for women's participation in politics by recommending that 30 per cent slot should compulsorily be left for them. While making case for the independence of the media, CAN called for the passage of the Freedom Of Information (FOI) Bill and suggested the review of the law on ownership and control of the electronic media.