Electoral Act Amendment: Buhari Makes Fresh Moves Over Direct Primaries

• President Muhammadu Buhari has taken steps to ensure he takes the best decision concerning the Electoral Act Amendment Bill
• The bill was recently passed by lawmakers of the National Assembly and sent to the president for his assent
• The president has however sought the best advice from experts in the field of the electioneering process and legal matters over the bill

Following the recent harmonisation of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill and the controversies it has raised so far, President Muhammadu Buhari has written a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Punch reports that the president in his letter sought advice from the commission on the right steps to take concerning decisions on direct primaries by political parties across the country.

Buhari in his letter addressed to the chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, sought comments from the INEC chairman over the bill passed by the National Assembly on November 9.

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Buhari also seeks advice from the Attorney General of the Federation

While the president has until December 19 - 30 days from its passage by the National Assembly - to take a definite decision on the bill, sources said Buhari has also sought advice from the Attorney General of the Federation, Malami Abubakar.

The source said INEC had received the president's which buttress on comments by the commission's chairman on direct primaries last week.

According to the source, a response is expected from the chairman of the commission on the matter as soon as possible.

The INEC source said:

"We are supposed to respond within seven days. I know that a response will be sent to the President anytime from now.”

However, other sources within the commission had said that the case of direct primaries was never discussed by the National Assembly.

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The source noted that the legislature on discussed issues of electronic transmission of results among others.

Controversy brews over the appointment of INEC commissioners by Buhari

Vanguard had reported that there was controversy over President Buhari appointment of national commissioners for INEC.

The controversy started after it became clear that five of INEC's national commissioners are set to retire by the first week of December 2021.

However, INEC officials have expressed worry that the president's appointment of new commissioners with partisan inclination may scuttle the ongoing work of the commission.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the INEC chairman had said that the commission is ready with the implementation of the amended Electoral Act once it is signed into law.

Yakubu also said that the commission is ready to address the issue of direct primaries for political parties on the president's instance.

He further cautioned politicians involved in the use of multiple voters' cards ahead of the 2023 general election.

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Also, the Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, had reacted to the harmonisation of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill by the lawmakers of the National Assembly.

The governor said that claims that some of his colleagues from other states are set to undermine the political stance of lawmakers are false.

He said no governor across the country issues their tickets to members of the National Assembly as widely reported.

Source: Legit.ng