February 22, (THEWILL) – The presidency has assured that in a matter of hours, President Muhammadu Buhari would sign the re-worked Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law
Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity made this known on Tuesday when he featured on Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily, monitored by THEWILL.
He said, “It could be signed today; it could be signed tomorrow. In a matter of hours, not days. Hours could be 24 hours, it could be 48 hours; not days, not weeks.”
President Buhari had declined assent to the first amendment bill over the provision of a mandatory direct primary to select candidates for election.
The bill earlier passed by the National Assembly on November 18, 2021, provided: “A political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this bill shall hold direct primaries for aspirants to all elective positions, which shall be monitored by the commission.”
But in declining assent, the president disclosed that he would only sign the bill if the lawmakers provided options for the conduct of primaries by political parties.
He also cited several disadvantages of the provision to the system, including security and possible manipulation by incumbent officeholders, who might be seeking re-election, as well as political parties’ inability to muster funds for it.
THEWILL recalls that after amending the bill by accommodating direct, indirect and consensus mode of primary, the National Assembly, on January 31, 2022, transmitted it to the president for assent.
The bill is expected to be signed by the president within 30 days of its passage.
The presidency had on Monday, berated groups and individuals for dragging President Muhammadu Buhari on social media for allegedly being reluctant on assenting to the bill.
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