‘Buhari can’t be stampeded into signing Electoral Act Amendment bill’

The Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan on Friday said that President Muhammadu Buhari cannot be stampeded into signing the 2018 Electoral Act Amendment bill into law.

Before the latest version was submitted to the Presidency, the President had withheld his assent to the document about three times due to ‘errors’ in the amended bill.

With the 2019 general elections fast approaching, it is feared that the 2018 Electoral Act Amendment bill may not meet the stipulated time if not urgently signed into law by the President.

But speaking with State House correspondents after jumaat prayer at the Presidential Villa on Friday, Lawan advised that the President should take his time to study the document to avoid errors.

According to him, the amended 2006 Electoral Act can still be used for the 2019 general elections.

If properly implemented, he said that the 2006 Electoral Act can even deliver a more transparent, free and fair elections in 2019 than what was experienced in 2015.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari has signed more bills than any previous President in Nigeria.

He said “President Muhammadu Buhari has signed more bills than previous presidents in this country.

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“Secondly, he has read and objected to certain provisions in many bills that were eventually sent back to the National Assembly to look and then return for further legislative actions for him to look at it again.

“Previous government of President Jonathan didn’t sign much, they kept most of the bills sent by the National Assembly. So I want to give kudos to the President for ensuring that he looks into the bills before signing.

“Some, he said he won’t sign because of this or that provisions which are either contradictory constitutionally or maybe it will cause more harm than good, so therefore the National Assembly should look into it again.

“The electoral bill you are talking about has been sent back twice or thrice, that is to tell you that the president is willing to sign he bill provided it meets certain conditions that will make our electoral processes better and more sane.

“So, the President is studying this bill, its not like you will send it to him and he will immediately sign. This is a sign that he is really interested in what we sent back to him.

“It is for him and his advisers to read through line by line and see how best the electoral process can be enhanced.

“So, I don’t think we have ran out of time, in fact I think we should encourage the president and those helping him to complete going through the bill before he signs.

“We still have the 2006 Electoral Act as amended that we used in 2015 for an election that was adjudged to be free, fair and an improved process.

“We don’t necessarily put so much pressure and unneeded criticism of the president when he is yet to complete his analysis of what has been sent to him. He needs to take his time.” he said

The Senate Leader went on “And I will advise, even though I am not one of his advisers, that he goes through what has been sent to him line by line, understand whatever his advisers will tell him and of what we have sent will make the elections in 2019 better, then he signs.

“But if however he discovers some provisions that will bring contradictions and controversies, he can withhold assent. I’m not advocating that he withholds assent but if he does, that is his right.

“I want to tell you that the APC caucus in the National Assembly stands with Mr. President on this.” he added

Asked if the Electoral Act amendment bill can still be used for the 2019 elections if signed into law now, he said “Yes. The 2006 electoral act as amended, was used in the 2015 general elections. Who amongst us will tell me that the 2015 general elections was not free and fair?

“The processes were free and fair. So if we are not able to get this bill signed, we can still use the 2006 electoral act as amended and in fact we can even achieve better than we did in 2015.

“We can observed our deficiencies in 2015 elections using the same act and we can improve it with administrative approach to the elections.

“So, I personally believe the president is doing what is right, nobody should push, pressurize him into signing the bill, he needs to thoroughly read and then take a decision.” he said

On whether the new version of the bill is in good shape for the president to sign into law, he said that the National Assembly has taken into consideration the issues raised by the President.

He said “I think we have taken into consideration the observations made by Mr. President and the comment. A society that is human is so dynamic, and an environment that is so politically charged, you cannot be sure of what you will say or judge to be okay.

“In a minute, it could change. So, for me I believe the National Assembly, we have done what we could to ensure that we work in a way that it will look better. But the President reserves the right to study it and not to be pressurized.

“I noticed that the PDP in their meeting of yesterday was saying the Presidency must sign the bill, was the bill passed by the PDP or the National Assembly. This kind of thing tells you a lot. I expect for members of the National Assembly to be the ones talking and not PDP national chairman or other presidential candidates.” he said