OrderPaperToday – The Clerk to the National Assembly Mr. Olatunde Amos Ojo, has transmitted the authenticated copies of the Electoral Bill 2022 to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The bill was sent for presidential assent on 31st January 2022.
This was done in accordance with the provisions 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.
Mr. President had withheld assent to the Electoral Bill 2021 transmitted to him on 19th November 2021. The Electoral Bill was thereafter reworked by the National Assembly and both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed same on 25th January 2022.
This was made known by Senator Babajide Omoworare, the Senior Special Assistant to President of the Senate on Political matters.
Recall that the 2021 Electoral Act Amendment Bill which was rejected assent recently by President Buhari who based his reservations on the inclusion of compulsory direct primaries as the mode of choosing political party candidates. He had cited security challenges, legal implication and the huge financial burden on the near depressed economy as justifications for his position.
In passing the bill, the Senate adopted the direct, indirect primaries and consensus candidature options for political parties.
However, the House adopted direct and indirect primaries for candidates of political parties but later made a U-turn and accepted the version passed by the Senate.
