The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), an African pro-democracy and research think tank, has joined its voice to the call on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Electoral Bill 2021 into law.

In a statement released on Monday, and signed by Idayat Hassan, the organisation’s country director, the centre states that signing the bill now that the country approaches two off-cycle elections in Ekiti and Osun State is a critical step.

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“In addition, the direct primary method for candidate selection proposed in the bill will improve internal party democracy by strengthening party membership,” a part of the statement reads.

“When signed into law, the electoral bill will now effectively return the electoral power to the original custodian, the people, in accordance with the dictate of democracy.”

According to the CDD, the new electoral bill contains provisions that can improve the electoral system, including the process of voting, collation, and announcement of results, and can help address the lack of public confidence in the process.

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CDD believes that the bill is capable of repositioning Nigerians as the decider of who represents their political parties and interests in elections, and that signing it is an opportunity for the president to write his name in gold.