400 CSOs Urge National Assembly To Adopt Open Voting System

The Transition Monitoring Group, a civil society organization comprising over 400 CSOs has asked the  National Assembly to make use of an open-ballot system in the selection of leadership for the ninth assembly.

Abiola Akiyode, who spoke for TMG in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, said the use of the open-ballot system would synchronize with the democracy being practiced in the country.

She noted that the open-ballot system is the most acceptable form of election in popular democracy and should be employed when electing the next leader of the national assembly.

She said, “The popular democracy everywhere is open ballot system. Normally, people should be able to vote and be able to stand with their votes and everybody should have the right to vote and be voted for. So, I think the open ballot system would have been the most ideal election".

Akiyode, however, noted that the political landscape of the country might make the lawmakers prefer secret voting, explaining that it could “pose a danger to the future relationship with the colleagues".

The election of the leadership of the ninth national assembly has been at the forefront of issues in the country.

APC  has presented its candidates and is keen on averting a repeat of the leadership crisis in 2015.

SR