The recently passed Electoral Amendment Act Bill by Nigerian Lawmakers has continued to be a source of controversies for the past few weeks. The issue gain much attention from the public after President Muhammadu Buhari refused to sign the bill into law.
The President has cited some reasons among which he said, that there contained a ‘contradictory clause in the bill that is stopping him from granting his assent.
The lawmakers on the other hand had earlier thought of overriding the president’s veto power and passed the bill into law as the decision of the Buhari to reject the bill didn’t go down well with the leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives.
What Is The New Development On The Amended Electoral Bill?
A new development seems to have taken place as the Speaker of House of Representatives disclosed that the lawmakers would back down from the earlier purported mobe to override Buhari’s veto. Although, he noted that they reconsider the bill in line with the view of the President for not signing it.
The Speaker made it known that they are considering the option of excluding an important clause in the bill perhaps, the compulsion of direct primaries which was the main reason given by President Buhari for rejecting the bill.
This is an indication that President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto stands despite all calls on the lawmakers and moves to override the President’s veto which would have made it possible to see the bill passed into law when the Nigerian Senators garnered over 73 signatures required by law to override the President’s veto.
What Made The Lawmakers To Back Down?
This question will perhaps have a vague answer because of how the lawmaker had earlier pushed to override the President. But, the statement made by the Speaker, Gbajabiamila confirmed that the lawmaker is not pleased that things turned out this way at this time. He disclosed that his idea on the issue for real power to return to the general public in other for the people to choose for themselves who should lead them, starting from the primary election up till the main election.
The Speaker confessed that it will have been a good idea if the bill would have been signed into law by the President. He noted it will deny certain political players who sit at a corner and write the names of those they want to emerge as the candidates for an election without a clear knowledge of those they have preferred are the people’s choice or not.
The Politics Behind The Sudden Change
It must be stressed that the issue surrounding the bill now has political lining and is among the reasons why the President the bill. The same political factors can be said to have become the reason for this sudden change as the lawmakers had declared to back down.
It may also interest you to know that the Nigerian lawmakers and State Governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC has been on loggerhead over a particular clause in the bill, which is the direct primary clause.
The Governors on the platform of the All Progressive Congress had picked interest in the bill as they tried to convince Buhari not to sign the bill. An earlier report had shown how the APC Governor lure top federal government officials including the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami to give Buhari reasons he should reject the bill. Indeed, Malami’s advised Buhari based on the possible consequences of the bill if signed into law.
Hence, the Governors put in more pressure against the after the bill was rejected and the lawmakers were on consultation to override Buhari’s veto. The Governors were said to have taken further steps to stop the lawmakers from overriding Buhari.
Another earlier report by The Punch revealed that APC Governors converged in Abuja to stop the move to override Buhari’s veto.
They call on the party to wade in the movement against the direct primary.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think the compulsion of a direct primary clause in the bill, if removed will still make the bill stand worthy?
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