Controversy deepens over electoral bill


By Muyiwa Akintunde 

Nigeria awaits the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill.

There have been speculations that the President might have declined assent on the bill transmitted to him by the National Assembly on 19th November, but nothing is yet confirmed.

Constitutionally, the 30-day period for the President to sign the bill upon receiving it from the federal parliament lapsed on Sunday.

Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu would not be pressured to disclose the decision of his principal as communication between the President and the National Assembly is confidential and can only be announced by the lawmakers.

It is however believed that the Federal Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami might have advised the President to decline assent to the long-awaited bill.

One of controversial aspects of the bill is the mode of party primary, which is recommended to be by direct process, which empowers party members to elect their candidates. 

Nigeria's major political parties have depended more on indirect primary, which is believed to be susceptible to the forces of the leaders of the party, particularly at the federal and state levels who have influence on delegates to the primary.

Governors argue that the logistics and financial implications  of monitoring the primaries will weigh down the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

But INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu insisted that the agency would cope with the challenge of monitoring the party primaries.

Senators and House of Representatives members are reportedly strategising on how to navigate the potential logjam.

The Constitution empowers the federal lawmakers to override the President's veto.

Section 58 (5) says: “Where the President withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required".

For those pushing this position, the main hurdle is the composition of the National Assembly, according to political parties.

The ruling All Progressives Congress has 70 out of 109 Senators, while the party has 240 members in the 360-member lower chamber, the House of Representatives.

Comments

  1. https://saleswcbizc.blogspot.com/20 December 2021 at 00:28

    My simple question, is it too much for the president to explain why the delay in assenting the bill, and if he is not going to assent it at all???

    ReplyDelete

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