President Muhammedu Buhari has received the authenticated copies of the Electoral Bill 2022.

A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Affairs (Senate), Babajide Omoworare, said Clerk to the National Assembly, Olatunde Amos Ojo, transmitted the authenticated copies, yesterday.

According to Omoworare, “this was done in accordance with the provisions of Section 58 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (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 November 19, 2021. The Electoral Bill was thereafter reworked by the National Assembly and both the Senate and House of Representatives passed same on January 25, 2022.”

Buhari had last December withheld assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which he returned to the National Assembly.

In a letter read on the floor of the House on December 21, he said Section 87 which requires political parties to conduct only direct primaries was an infringement on the rights of the political parties to make their own choices.

Buhari had in the letter dated December 13, said the law could lead to significant increase in the cost of conducting elections, susceptible to manipulation and could increase the level of corruption in the country as those willing to contest elections may dip their hands into public funds to mobilise even non-members to vote for them. He added that opposition parties could also sponsor people to vote against popular candidates in an election to pave way for them.

Sun