AS mixed reactions continued to trail the recent draft white paper on electoral reforms released by the Federal government, investigations revealed that having had a hint of what would be the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) deliberations on the draft white paper on the Electoral Reform Panel report, state governors during their last meeting in Abuja within the week agreed to do everything within their power to ensure that the State Electoral Commission would not be scrapped as recommended in the paper.

Their argument, according to a source close to one of the governors from the North- West states is that scrapping SIEC negates the spirit of true federalism, which discourages concentration of power in the centre. The source disclosed that the governors are already mobilizing members of the National Assembly from their states who are responding positively as most of them are close allies of their state governors.

In the meeting, they reportedly adopted two options: Taking the Federal Government to Court on the matter and using members of the National Assembly from their states to scuttle the process.

A Senator from a Southwest state who pleaded anonymity yesterday disclosed to The Guardian that if Nigerians did not rise to the challenge of the new development in the polity, the much touted reforms might be an exercise in futility as the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that they have their way on the issue as they are in the majority in the National Assembly and would use their numerical strength to outdo others.

"We are at a crucial stage now. We need actions not mere rhetoric, because if we fail to get it right now, we should not expect miracle or magic in 2011 election because PDP will have their way. Labour, civil society organisations and media should be mobilized in this struggle if the majority of Nigerians would have their way in the reforms," the Senator said.

Meanwhile, former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the Action Congress (AC) in the last election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has expressed disappointment that the draft proposal adopted by Federal Executive Council (FEC) would not solve the nation's lingering electoral problems. Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, Atiku said what the nation needed was not just any form of reforms but reforms that would bolster the confidence of Nigerians in the electoral system and enhance the integrity of the nation's democracy.

"The government's proposals fall short of my expectation and I believe the situation can still be rescued by government and other stakeholders in the National Assembly," he said.

He expressed confidence in other recommendations to make INEC independent, but criticized the retention of the power of appointing INEC chairman in the hand of the President, arguing that the President and members of the National Assembly who will approve the appointment of the INEC chairman are politicians and partisan participants in the electoral process.

"I wish that as a nation, we do not lose this historic opportunity to enthrone a credible and durable electoral system. I am pleased with the other recommendations to enhance the independence of INEC like its removal from the list of federal executive bodies, moving its funding to the first line charge on the consolidated revenue and the inclusion of representatives of labour, media and civil society in INEC. These measures cannot, however, guarantee the independence of INEC, if INEC chairman and majority of its members are to be nominated by the President," Atiku said.

He advocated a two-party system that can check the excesses of each other, particularly in electoral process, emphasizing that the history of party politics in Nigeria has shown that it is difficult for opposition parties to work together and present a strong opposition to the government in power.

Atiku added that while the National Assembly had the responsibility to amend the constitution, they were not the only stakeholders in the process.

He urged Nigerians to see electoral reforms in the country as a collective challenge that deserved serious concern and attention.

"Every Nigerian should participate in the process and get their representatives to know how they feel about it. In Nigeria 's recent political history, we have had instances where those in government pursued agenda that were at variance with the wishes of the people. And in spite of fears that the ruling party and government will have their way, the resolve of Nigerians to stop those agenda carried the day. We should not throw our hands in the air in resignation about what the National Assembly will do. If we are committed and active in defending our position, we can have an electoral system that we want. I know that the Nigerian media has always risen to the occasion at critical points in our history. This is yet another challenge for the media to work with other Nigerians and make sure that we have an electoral system that will prevent the kind of national embarrassment we had in the 2007 elections.

In his own remarks on the issue, former civilian governor of Kaduna State and chairman, Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said the PDP-led Federal Government under President Umaru Yar Adua has no moral authority to embark on such electoral reforms since his government would be the direct beneficiary. "You cannot be an umpire in a game you are a player. It is not possible anywhere. PDP cannot tolerate anything other than the one that will give them total control. Even though the electoral reforms committee is a PDP game, still the mere fact that the report gives a little possibility of sincerity, they cannot still tolerate the exclusion of the President in the appointment of INEC. They cannot tolerate it because, if PDP has no power on the appointment of members of the electoral body, it means the PDP would not be able to rig future elections," he stated.

"The PDP, which says it will remain in power in the next 60 years, definitely needs an electoral body, which is subordinate to it. And that is why it will not accept even this mild electoral reform proposed by the committee," the former governor added.