Buhari still consulting on new Electoral Bill

11 Feb Buhari still consulting on new Electoral Bill

President Muhammadu Buhari is receiving consultations from the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on the way forward on the ‘Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021′, his Senior Special Assistant National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Babajide Omoworare has said.

Omoworare disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja, during a discussion organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), in collaboration with Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD).

The National Assembly had on Monday, Jan. 31, transmitted the reworked Bill to the President for assent.

Omoworare said that consultations were ongoing by the President, the Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami and other stakeholders to assent the Bill.

“A very crucial consultation is going on between Mr President, the Attorney-General and other critical stakeholders on the content of the bill for the required assent.

“If not for this programme, I am supposed to be at the very important meeting, believed to be the major determinant for the fate of the bill.

“I have it on good authority that the attorney-general is deliberating with him at the moment and it is not just the attorney-general.

“For every Bill that comes to the President, he consults before deciding to assent or withhold his assent, with reasons in furtherance of the provision of the Constitution.

“We are aware that in spite of the fact that the President needs 30 days under Section 58 to sign, the President is desirous of signing it”, he said.

He however assured Nigerians that the bill will most likely be assented to by the President, since issues earlier raised by him in the 2021 edition, were elaborately addressed by both chambers of the National Assembly last month.

“Personally, I think in a few days’ time, Mr President will do the needful, since the most contentious aspect of the bill, had been addressed in the reworked one transmitted to him on Monday, January 31, 2022.

“Time as it is, is of the essence but I believe that Mr President will do the needful”, he said.

Also speaking, former Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, said that a good law was necessary for electoral integrity.