BENIN CITY – Human Rights Lawyer, Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa Esq, has harped on the need for the 9th National Assembly to improve on the Nation’s electoral laws and the constitution.
Olu-Adegboruwa described as a “joke of the 21st century”, were all that is needed to be President of Nigeria is a school certificate or its equivalent.
The Legal Practitioner stated these in his recommendation in a paper he delivered on Monday in Benin city, on the topic of 2019 Law Week, “ADVANCING THE NIGERIAN DEMORACTIC OUTLOOK: THE ROLE OF LAW”, organized by the Benin Branch of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Section 131 (d)of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides: “131. A person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if- (d)he has been educated up to at least school certificate level or its equivalent.”
However, Olu-Adegboruwa who was represented by Barr Peter Ekavwo, called on the Nigerian Judiciary to remain bold and fearless in holding governments accountable when it flouts the laws of the land.
According to him, “there is the urgent need to tinker with the electoral laws and the constitution, to firmly entrench the deployment of technology in the electoral process.
“Lawmakers in the 9th Assembly must as a matter of urgency initiate amendments in this regard to a minimum of a University Degree with a diploma in law or political science. This is to equip the leader with the requisite intellect to manage a modern society such as our”.
While charging the courts to assist the Nigerian people through innovative and inspiring judgement in defense and advancement of the judiciary, he urged the Federal Government to continue to build the capacities of democratic institutions, through amendments of obsolete legislations, proper funding and appointment of competent officials to head such institutions.
He however noted that, in advancing Nigeria’s democracy, a vibrant bar, civil society, and populace must be willing to hold government accountable for acts which undermines and jeopardizes the system.
