WITH President Muhammadu Buhari signing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law, yesterday, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will meet, today, to decide on new dates for the 2023 general polls.
Last week, the electoral umpire said the February 18, 2023 date for the presidential poll would be postponed, if the President did not sign the electoral bill into law by last Tuesday, which was exactly 360 days to February 18, 2023 as required by law.
Following President Buhari’s assent to the electoral law, yesterday, an elated INEC said it would hold an extraordinary meeting, today, to deliberate on the way forward for the 2023 polls.
Instead of declining assent as he did, last December, President Buhari appended his signature, this time around despite misgivings over a section of the bill. At exactly 2.25 pm, he signed the bill.
President, Buhari however, rejected Section 84 (12) of the signed Electoral law, saying it runs contrary to the nation’s constitution.
Section 84 of the Electoral Act (Amended) stipulates that anyone holding a political office – ministers, commissioners, special advisers, and others – must relinquish the position before they can be eligible to participate in the electoral process either as a candidate or delegate.
President said that the Electoral Act (Amendment) law 2022 holds a lot of promise for improving the election processes in the country, with introduction of new technology, and efforts to engender clarity and transparency.
At a signing ceremony held at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Buhari, told the National Assembly to immediately commence the process of amending Section 84 (12) of the law in order to delete it, noting that it disqualifies 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.
He said that he received inputs from relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government after careful and thorough reviews of the Bill and its implications for democratic processes in our country.
His words: “The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2022, passed by the National Assembly forwarded for Presidential Assent, via a letter dated 31st January, 2022. In line with established tradition, I received inputs from relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government after careful and thorough reviews of the Bill and its implications to democratic processes in our country.
“It is gratifying to note that the current Bill comes with a great deal of improvement from the previous Electoral Bill 2021. There are salient and praiseworthy provisions that could positively revolutionize elections in Nigeria through the introduction of new technological innovations. These innovations would guarantee the constitutional rights of citizens to vote and to do so effectively.
“The Bill would also improve and engender clarity, effectiveness and transparency of the election process, as well as reduce to the barest minimum incidences of acrimony arising from dissatisfied candidates and political parties.
“These commendable efforts are in line with our policy to bequeath posterity and landmark legal framework that paves the way for credible and sound electoral process that we would all be proud of.”
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