Electoral Act Amendment: We’re On Same Page – Saraki, Dogara
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara on Saturday jointly declared that there is no disagreement between them as presiding officers of the two chambers of the National Assembly over the Electoral Act amendment 2018.
The two leaders, who were reacting to media reports claiming disagreement between them (Senator Saraki and Speaker Dogara) over how both chambers of the National Assembly will handle President Muhammadu Buhari’s withholding of assent on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, said they remain united on the issue.
A statement jointly signed by the Special Advisers on Media and Publicity to the Senate President and Speaker, Messrs Yusuf Olaniyon and Turaki Hassan respectively, said; “The Senate President and the Speaker, as heads of the two chambers of the National Assembly and representing the views of their colleagues, will want everybody to know that they are on the same page on what is the appropriate reaction to the President’s withholding of assent on the Electoral Act amendment bill.
“There is no disagreement between the two chambers as well as their presiding officers. The leadership of the two chambers constantly hold discussions and are in agreement on what to do, how to do it, when to do it and why it must be done.
“The issue at stake is not personal. It is about deepening democracy. It is about improving our democracy and the National Assembly is on firm constitutional and legal grounds to amend the law as well as take decisions in the manner they have been responding.
“We see that story and the insinuations contained in it as mere distraction and unnecessary misrepresentation aimed at creating division in the Federal Legislature.”
The statement said the Senate President, the Speaker and their colleagues therefore urged Nigerians and members of the public to discountenance the report.
