Why I Withheld Assent To Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021 – Buhari

In what looks like a repeat of what took place in 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari has written the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly with reasons why he is withholding his assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021.

The President in a letter to the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, said that the prevailing situation in the country would not allow him to sign the bill.

Buhari explained that among other reasons for rejecting the bill, is the high cost of conducting Direct Party Primaries, the security challenge of monitoring the election, violation of citizens’ rights and marginalization of small political parties.

He further said that he had received informed advice from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, and carefully reviewed the Bill in light of the current realities prevalent in the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the circumstances.

Buhari specifically said that it would be better to allow each political party to determine its mode of selecting candidates for election.