BY EDMOND ODOK – President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the long-awaited Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021, expressing confidence that it will promote sound electoral processes and good governance in the country.
The Presiden, who also said the new law is expected to reduce disagreements and ambiguities in the electoral process, however, urged the National Assembly (NASS) to immediately amend Section 84 of the Act, in line with the nation’s 1999 Constitution as amended.
In rejecting section 84 of the Act, the President noted that it disenfranchised serving political officer holders from electoral processes, saying; “Section 84 (12) constitutes a disenfranchisement of serving political office holders from voting or being voted for at Conventions or Congresses of any political party, for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election in cases where it holds earlier than 30 days to the National Election.”
President Buhari, who assented to the bill presented to him by his Senior Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Senator Babajide Omoworare, also drew the National Assembly’s attention to some other issues in the new Act, adding that he intends to propose amendments which the lawmakers should consider.
At the signing ceremony were the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr Kayode Fayemi, and among other top government functionaries.
