Electoral Reform: Tinubu, Falana Disagree On Party Structure

Adewale Ajayi, Lagos - 17.05.2008

Former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Lagos lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, on Friday had a sharp disagreement on the number of political parties required in Nigeria .

Speaking at a three-day public hearing organized by Electoral Reform Committee, Senator Tinubu advocated for a return to two party system, while Falana insisted that two party system was a creation of the military, which was not in consonance with participatory democracy.

Tinubu’s argument was based on the need to provide a formidable opposition to the party in power, rather than having many parties that could not muster the strenght to confront the party in power.

The duo, however, agreed that election to offices should hold at least six months to swearing in of elected officers , and election petition should have been done with before the swearing in.

Tinubu urged the committee to see their duty as an onerous one that would save the country from tyranny and build up constitutional democracy.

He described members of the committee as the conscience of the country. Senator Tinubu equally advised the committee to take the public hearing to the grassroot so that people at the grass root will have their input into the electoral reform.

Also speaking at the public hearing, Engineer Rauf Aregbesola, Action Congress governorship candidate in Osun state at the last election, said tribunal ruling should be completed before swearing in, because it was always at a disadvantage challenging a government already sworn in which he said would do everything to pervert justice.

Speaking on behalf of women Mrs Bisi Olateru Olagbegi of WONACO called for the abrogation of laws which prevented women from contesting election in the state of their husbands, and that all forms of gender discrimination should be abolished.