President
Muhammadu Buhari has written the Senate, explaining why he refused to assent to
the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2018 recently passed by the National Assembly.
President of
the Senate, Bukola Saraki, read the President’s letter at the Tuesday Plenary.
President
Buhari’s letter to the senators reads: “Pursuant to Section 58 (4) of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I hereby convey
to the Senate, my decision on 6th December 2018 to decline Presidential Assent
to the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2018 recently passed by the National
Assembly.
“I am
declining assent to the Bill principally because I am concerned that passing a
new electoral bill this far into the electoral process for the 2019 general
elections, which commenced under the 2015 Electoral Act, could create some
uncertainty about the applicable legislation to govern the process.
“Any real or
apparent change to the rules this close to the election may provide an
opportunity for disruption and confusion in respect of which law governs the
electoral process.
“This leads
me to believe that it is in the best interest of the country and our democracy
for the National Assembly to specifically state in the Bill that the Electoral
Act will come into effect and be applicable to elections commencing after the
2019 General Elections.”
Continuing,
Buhari explains, “It is also important for the following drafting amendments to
be made to the Bill:
”A. Section
5 of the Bill, amending section 18 of the Principal Act should indicate the
subsection to which the substitution of the figure ’30” for the figure “60” is
to be effected.”
“B. Section
11 of the Bill, amending Section 36 should indicate the subsection in which the
provision is to be introduced.
“C. Section
24 of the Bill which amends Section 85(1) should be redrafted in full as the
introduction of the “electing” to the sentence may be interpreted to mean that
the political parties may give 21 days’ notice of the .. intention to merge, as
opposed to the 90 days provided in Section 84(2) of the Electoral Act which
provides the provision for merger of political parties.”
“D. The
definition of the term “Ward Collection Officer” should be revised to reflect a
more descriptive definition than the capitalized and undefined term
“Registration Area Collation Officer.”
The
President concluded his letter with greeting to the lawmakers: “Please accept,
Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
After Saraki
finished reading the President’s letter, Senate Leader moved that all items on
the Order Paper be stood down to another legislative day.
Minority
Leader seconded the motion and the Plenary adjourned to Wednesday, 12th
December, 2018.
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