Just as President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday signed the long-awaited Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021, into law he has also called on the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency expunged Section 84 (12) of the re-worked Electoral Bill because it will disenfranchise some eligible Nigerians
The section Buhari is seeking the lawmakers to take off from the bill says that “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”
Speaking at the at Council Chamber, State House, Abuja during the signing ceremony of the bill, the President said “only constitutional expectation placed on serving political office holders that qualify, by extension as public officers within the context of the constitution is resignation, withdrawal or retirement at least 30 days before the date of the election.
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,”
“Arising from the foregoing, with particular regards to the benefits of the Bill, industry, time, resources and energy committed in its passage, I hereby assent to the Bill and request the Nationally Assembly to consider immediate amendments that will bring the Bill in tune with constitutionality by way of deleting section 84(12) accordingly.”
Those who were with the President during the signing of the bill included Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Others at the Council Chamber included Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.