The National Assembly has presented the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill 2021 to President Muhammdu Buhari for assent.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare last night.
According to the statement titled: “Transmission of Electoral Bill 2021” Omoworare said: “Please be informed that in pursuance of Section 58 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2 LFN 2004, the National Assembly has transmitted the Electoral Bill 2021 to Mr. President today Friday, November 19, 2021.”
It is not clear if the President will sign the bill into law given opposition by a statement to a provision in the Bill prescribing only direct primary election mode for political parties.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said President Buhari is in support of the direct mode of selecting candidates for elections by political parties.
Gbajabiamila described the President as a product of direct primary and assured that he will sign the bill into law.
Commenting on the position of the National Assembly, he said, “Are you not aware that the National Assembly has passed the direct primary and electronic transmission of election results? That is the position of the National Assembly. It has passed through both Houses.”
