By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—THE people of Edo State, yesterday, rejected the recommendations of the National Assembly on the proposed electoral reforms, insisting that they stand on the earlier recommendations of the Justice Muhammed Uwais Electoral Reform Committee.

Consequently, the State House of Assembly adopted the position  of the people after the Committee set up by the House to conduct the public hearing rounded off yesterday.

Those who participated in the hearing,  argued that the recommendations made by the National Assembly were “selfish”, adding that the recommendations would not only protect those who want the status quo to remain, but would further worsen the problems in the electoral system.

The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Paul Ohonbanmu, who presided over the public hearing, said,  “throughout the public hearing, nobody seemed to be comfortable with the National Assembly’s recommendations because they were saying that all that was needed to ensure a free and fair election are in the Uwais report. And if you actually look at it, there are lots of selfish clauses in the recommendations of the National Assembly and it was not surprising that the recommendations were rejected by the people of Edo State.”

Reacting also, the Leader of the House, Mr Philip Shuaibu, said,  “majority of Nigerians have insisted that the power to appoint Independent National Electoral Commission,  INEC,  chairman should be removed from the President.

So as to avoid undue control on the Commission. And that was what the Uwais report stated. That is why the state House of Assembly unanimously adopted the resolve of the people of the state, who rejected the recommendations of the National Assembly.”