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NANS urges Buhari to effect downward review of N305bn INEC budget for 2023 polls

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The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has decried as huge the N305bn budget proposed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the 2023 general elections.

This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Coordinator of NANS in the Southwest, Emmanuel Olatunji, who noted that the amount was unfeasible considering the current economic situation of the country.

Olatunji further stated that “The Nigerian economy is barely hanging by a thread and the requested N305bn may not be feasible at this time.

“Consequently, we admonish both INEC and the Federal Government to adopt astute patriotism to the country by looking for the nearest most appropriate solution to this potential quagmire.”

The NANS further implored President Buhari to reconsider his stance regarding the entrenchment of direct primaries in the Electoral Act.

“We also implore the Presidency to eliminate all forms of sentiments and subjectivity in all their dealings with INEC, which includes the incorporation of INEC’s allocation into the national budget.

“Both parties will do themselves a world of good and have more time to serve the good people of Nigeria if this is adopted.

READ ALSO: INEC promotes 1,985 staff ahead of 2023 elections

“It is also expedient that we wade in on the withdrawal of presidential assent to the proposed electoral bill amendment.

“We want to intimate President Muhammadu Buhari that this is his chance to write his name in gold as the President that restructured Nigeria’s electoral system after years of trial and error. The President should therefore ignore all dissident and retrogressive exhortations aimed at dissuading him from signing the bill into law.

“We affirm our conviction in the direct primary procedure as it will allow only politicians who are truly popular at the grassroot level to emerge as party candidates.

“However, we also concur that political parties should be able to unilaterally determine their choice of technique in line with their respective ideologies,” the statement reads.

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