CSO congratulates Lawan, Omo-Agege but insists on open ballot

June 11, 2019 7:20 pm

Advocates for Good Governance (AGG), a civil society organization, has congratulated Ahmad Lawan and Ovie Omo-Agege on their emergence as senate president and deputy senate president respectively.

A statement signed by Duro Meseko, convener of the organisation, described their emergence as “victory for democracy”.

However, the group says it will continue to campaign for open ballot system in the election of national assembly leaders as against the “open secret ballot” that was adopted.

Under open ballot, legislators will raise their hands to vote for their candidates of choice, while under the “open secret” system, they will vote openly with ballot papers.

The organisation noted that it had been at the forefront of the campaign for the adoption of open ballot system in the national assembly and urged Lawan not to delay but hit the ground running in providing purposeful leadership for the senate.

It vowed to keep advocating for the adoption of the open ballot system in both chambers of the national assembly.

“We heartily congratulate Senators Ahmed Lawan and Ovie Omo-Agege on their elections today as President of the Senate and Deputy Senate President respectively,” the statement said.

“No doubt, members of the 9th Senate have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that they were ready for a leadership that would facilitate good governance in Nigeria.

“This is victory for democracy. This is victory for party supremacy in Nigeria.”

Earlier, there was argument among senators-elect on the process to adopt in voting. Some had pushed for a secret ballot while others wanted open ballot.

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had endorsed Lawan for the position of the senate president and Omo-Agege as deputy senate president.

Lawan secured 79 votes to defeat Ali Ndume from Borno south who polled 28 votes.

Omo-Agege, lawmaker representing Delta central, secured 68 votes in the election to defeat Ike Ekweremadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 37 votes.