By G9ija
In order to halt the same faith ticket of the President and Vice President of Nigeria by any political party after the 2023 general election , the Senate will consider to amend section 84 of the 2022 Electoral Act.
This was made known by Senator Smart Adeyemi while addressing journalists in Abuja displaying a draft copy of a bill to that effect to journalists covering the Senate.
Adeyemi said the controversy the Muslim- Muslim Presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), generating in the polity, necessitated the move .
According to him, to prevent future occurrence, a new sub-section is being proposed to section 84 of the 2022 Electoral Act.
“Section 84 of the Principal Act will be amended by inserting a new subsection 3 which will state thus “No political party shall nominate candidates of the same religion as Presidential candidate and Vice Presidential candidate after the 2023 election.
“When this is accommodated, it will serve as a guide against any oversight such as this in the future as further occurrences will be deemed as silent policy which is capable of bringing down the fabrics of the nation”, he said.
He added that wide range consultations on the need for the amendment have been made with the leadership of the Senate and other colleagues.
However, the Senator said that though apprehensions raised by the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN ) over same faith presidential ticket are genuine but the broadmindedness and pedigree of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shetimma will allay all fears being raised.
Tinubu and Shettima, he added, should be assessed based on their pedigrees and not their religious faith or even political party.
“Nigerians should look at the individual candidates contesting for the presidency in 2023 and not the political parties they belong to or religion they practise.
“Based on my conviction, despite the same faith ticket, Tinubu and Shetimma are the best for the country come 2023.
“They have demonstrated required capacities, competence and commitment while in office as Executive Governors of Lagos and Borno separately.
” Asiwaju Tinubu in particular, demonstrated his pan Nigerian disposition with his cabinet composition devoid of tribal or religious sentiments
“He and Shetimma are, in actual fact, Nigeria’s candidates that should be voted for,” he said.
He lambasted the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for violating the zoning policy of his political party by declaring it is the turn of the South, to produce the next President.
He also carpeted the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party for believing in street shows which cannot in any way, be used to win election.
“His Excellency, Peter Obi ought not to have left PDP as required structure for Presidential election.
“Street shows or one million man marches being displayed by Peter Obi supporters cannot win the Presidential election,” he said.