Electoral Amendment Bill: Buhari Writes National Assembly And Gives Reasons for Withholding Assent

President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the National Assembly, giving reasons for withholding his assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021.

Gatekeepers News reports that in a letter to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, expected to be read at plenary on Tuesday, the president said that prevailing situation in the country would not allow him sign the bill.

Some of the reasons for rejecting the bill, according to the President includes high cost of conducting direct primaries, the security challenge of monitoring the election, violation of citizens’ rights and marginalization of small political parties.

Buhari said he had consulted widely and received informed advice from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, and had also carefully reviewed the Bill in the light of current realities prevalent in the country.

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

In the light of the above, the President has returned the Bill to the National Assembly asking them to have a second look at the direct primary clause and re-present the Bill for assent.