President
Muhammadu Buhari has literally set the nation on fire as he finally withheld
his assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018 passed by the National
Assembly.
His
action is not going down well with the National Assembly, Peoples Democratic
Party and over 45 opposition political parties under the aegis of the Coalition
of United Political Parties.
Also,
some prominent Senior Advocates of Nigeria have all kicked against Buhari’s
action which they find difficult to comprehend.
The
President had earlier on Friday announced his decision to withhold his assent
to the crucial electoral bill which the National Assembly transmitted to him on
November 7.
The
controversial bill has been returned to the National Assembly after the
President refused to sign it the fourth time.
The
President had earlier rejected it for the third time and returned it to the
legislature on August 30.
Confirming
Buhari’s latest decision in Abuja, his Senior Special Assistant, National
Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, said the President gave his
reasons in a letter to the National Assembly.
Enang,
a member of the All Progressives Congress from Akwa Ibom State, merely said,
“President Muhammadu Buhari has taken decision on the Electoral Act (Amendment)
Bill 2018 in accordance with his power under the 1999 Constitution and has
communicated that decision to the Senate and the House of Representatives in
accordance with the law.”
He
added that Buhari acted within the law, which compels him to communicate his
decision to the National Assembly.
Enang
noted, “The President has taken a decision in accordance with the powers vested
in him by the constitution. And by convention that decision contained in the
communication can only be revealed by the person to whom that decision is
addressed.
“But
the electoral bill has left Mr President because he has taken a decision and
has remitted it back.”
According
to Saturday PUNCH findings, Buhari made the withdrawal known in a letter to the
Senate and the House of Representatives, which was addressed to the President,
Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, respectively.
It
read, “Pursuant to Section 58(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I hereby convey to the Senate/House of
Representatives, 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.”
Buhari
also raises some drafting issues, calling for insertion and deletion of some
words.
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