Buhari Declines Electoral Bill Assent?

The presidency has dismissed speculations that President Muhammadu Buhari has declined assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. Reacting to the speculation, the president’s senior special assistant on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said there is no cause for alarm as Buhari is still consulting widely on whether or not to give his nod to the amended law. He stated: “There is no truth in the story that President Muhammadu Buhari has declined signature on the bill. “He has not taken a decision yet. The president is widely consulting. “I believe there is nothing to worry about. There is still time. I believe he still has up to December 19th or thereabouts.”

The National Assembly had on, November 9, passed the much anticipated Electoral Bill 2021 and approved the electronic transmission of results after a lot of deliberations. The Electoral Act, which is awaiting the assent of President Buhari, has been raising dust and controversies. The president has up till December 19 to append or decline his signature to the bill. Buhari is reportedly under pressure from influential Nigerians not to sign the bill because they do not want direct primaries to be conducted by political parties and electronic voting/transmission of results.