2023: Buhari Sends Controversial Electoral Bill To INEC, Attorney-General For Advice

President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded the controversial Electoral Act Amendement bill to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami for advice.

The bill has been causing a lot of problems for Political parties over an apparent ‘mistake’ by members of the National Assembly, as they failed to included themselves as ‘Delegates’

THE ELECTORAL ACT

The new Section 84(8) introduced in the Act recognises only democratically elected delegates.

It states: “A political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice of its candidate shall clearly outline in its constitution and rules the procedure for the democratic election of delegates to vote at the convention, congress or meeting.”

Following the failure of the National Assembly to recognise themselves, the president, vice president, governors and other elected government officials as statutory delegates in the Electoral Act 2022, the Senate and the House of Representatives had penultimate week passed the amendment to the Act to recognise statutory delegates as voters during primaries, congresses and conventions of all the political parties.

President Buhari is facing intense pressure to sign the act but is hesitant in order not to make mistakes. His signature will ensure that himself, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, members of the National Assembly, governors, their deputies and other statutory delegates of political parties can vote in the parties’ primaries.

Others who will be able to vote if Buhari signs the amended Act including the parties’ National Working Committee (NWC) members, state party chairmen, secretaries, local government chairmen, deputies, councillors, and party chairmen in the 774 local government areas.