Buhari writes NASS, rejects Electoral Act Amendment bill

President Muhammadu Buhari has withheld his assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021.

In a letter to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, the president said that prevailing situation in the country would not allow him to sign the bill.

Among other reasons for rejecting the bill, the president cited 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 received informed advice from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Government, and had also carefully reviewed the Bill in light of the current realities prevalent in the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the circumstances.

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

He also said small parties will be marginalised.

“With these reasons, the President has returned the bill to the National Assembly, asking the lawmakers to look at the clause that has to do with direct primaries by political parties, work on it and return the document for assent because it will compound insecurity in the country,” the source added.

The bill was transmitted to the President on November 19, 2021, after both chambers of the National Assembly passed shortly before a tripartite meeting with the APC leadership and the governors.

The bill was transmitted to the President on November 19, 2021, after both chambers of the National Assembly hurriedly passed it against the wishes of the leadership of the APC.

Apart from mandatory direct primaries, the bill also makes a provision for electronic transmission of results by INEC and increases the limit for election spending by candidates.

However, the APC Governors Forum led by Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State had rejected the bill because of the direct primary issue.

Amid the raging controversy, the President wrote a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission seeking the view of INEC over the matter.

He also wrote to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), who took sides with the APC governors.

Malami pointedly told the President that forcing all political parties to adopt direct primaries would be a recipe for disaster and confusion.