One of the contestants for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Umaru Bago (APC, Niger), has kicked against the call for adoption of open ballot voting, for the emergence of the leadership of the 9th National Assembly.
Speaking at a media interactive session in Abuja on Wednesday, Bago said the call was an act of intimidation.
The lawmaker also urged his colleagues not to succumb to the intimidation, but go out to vote on June 10, according to their conscience.
Bago said: “The call for open ballot voting during the election of the leadership of the National Assembly is crude, if the group behind it is serious, they should have asked that open ballot be adopted for the 2019 general election.
“This agitation is pure mischief. If I may ask, who’s afraid of secret ballot?
“If any contestants has the number and confident of victory, why the complaint over the system that is enshrined in our House rules and expecting the House to change its rule on the eve of election.
“I will advise our members not to bow to intimidation”.
Bago also denied reports that he has withdrawn from the race.
