Nigerians await NASS as Buhari rejects Electoral Amendment Bill

President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly written the National Assembly, formally withholding his assent to the just amended Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021.

The Bill had been transmitted to the president some 31 days ago, by the NASS after rigorous debates in both chambers – the Senate and House of Representatives.

By law, the president was expected to assent to the Bill in order to become law within 30 days after being transmitted to his office.

Emerging reports, however, suggest Buhari has written a letter to the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, giving reasons he withheld his assent to the Bill.

He was said to have cited the high cost of conducting direct primaries, the security challenge of monitoring the election, violation of citizens’ rights and marginalization of small political parties among other reasons for rejecting the bill.

“With all these reasons given by the President, he has returned the Bill to the National Assembly, asking the lawmakers to look at the clause that has to do with direct primaries by political parties, work on it and return the document for his assent,” an informed source disclosed.

The President also said he had received informed advice from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the government, and had also carefully reviewed the Bill in light of the current realities prevalent in the country in the circumstances.

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The president, RELIABLESOURCENG.COM gathered, said that it would be better to allow each political party to determine its mode of selecting candidates for election.

The 30-day window for President Buhari to assent the bill elapsed Sunday night.

Both the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, had at different times met with the President over the bill and expressed confidence that he would assent to it.

The National Assembly had, on November 19, transmitted the bill to President Buhari for assent in line with the constitutional provision.

With this development, Nigerians now await to see if the National Assembly, whose leadership had been upbeat about the president signing the Bill into law will override the president’s veto, by mustering the two-third majority that will see the Bill become law.

The NASS reconvenes for plenary Tuesday, December 21.