Fresh Dust Over Electoral Bill As NASS Resumes Today

Post created on 10:58 am

Fresh dust is gathering around the Electoral Act Amendment Bill rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari over direct primaries as the National Assembly resumes today from Christmas and New Year break.

Buhari had in a letter to the National Assembly, dated December 13, 2021, titled “Withholding of assent to Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021”, withheld  his assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, citing economic, security and legal issues.

CROWN FM reports that the lawmakers had proceeded on their recess after the president communicated to them the rejection of the amendments made to the 2010 Electoral Act.

While there were moves to override the president’s veto at the Senate before the recess, the members of the House of Representatives said action would be taken on the draft law after their break.

The president had in an exclusive interview with Channels TV said he would assent the electoral act bill if the lawmakers provide options for the conduct of political parties’ primaries. He listed the options to include; indirect, direct and consensus.

Ahead of the resumption of the parliamentarians, stakeholders in the country’s political scene including governors, civil society groups have suggested ways out of the quagmire.