With just 70 days to Nigeria’s next general elections, President Muhammadu Buhari has withheld his assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2018, for the fourth time.
The bill, which was forwarded to the President by the National Assembly following reassessment by the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was rejected in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Bukola Sarki, and the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara.
The letter, dated December 6 and titled: “Presidential Decision to Decline Assent to the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2018,” explains Buhari’s decision to reject the bill with the major crux resting on the proximity of the 2019 polls, and how it might, in his words, create “uncertainties.”
“I am declining assent to the bill principally because I am concerned that passing a new electoral bill this far into the electoral process for the 2019 general elections which commenced under the 2015 electoral act, could create some uncertainty about the applicable legislation to govern the process. Any real or apparent change to the rules this close to the election may provide an opportunity for disruption and confusion in respect of which law governs the electoral process.”
Buhari also stated that it is in the best interest of the country and democracy, for the National Assembly to make sure that the bill comes into effect after the 2019 polls are over.
This decision follows the Senate Leader’s comments, insisting that the President would not be stampeded into signing a bill he does not believe in, and that the existing Electoral Act of 2006 and the amended 2010 version are solid enough to carry the 2019 elections through. However, this has been refuted in certain quarters.
The 2018 amendment was drafted to reduce the margin of error in the 2019 elections and beyond, by employing more technological innovations to tackle various electoral discrepancies such as ballot snatching and manipulation, particularly through the use of a card readers for proper accreditation of voters.
With a history of tinted electioneering processes including cases of vote buying, election rigging and underaged voting, Nigeria has struggled with instituting strict processes in picking its leaders. The 2018 amendment to the electoral bill was seen as a beacon of hope in terms of bettering this process.
Although the President’s reason is logical, we must not not forget that he was brought into power by an election that was deemed free and fair by both Nigerians and the international community. It is important to note that this would not have been the case, if former President Goodluck Jonathan had refused to sign an amended version of the bill just 48 hours before heading to the polls.
Reactions to the refusal to sign the bill have bordered on distrust for the President’s motives, with some calling it a “desperate” attempt to create easier ways to manipulate the results. This, in addition to controversial comments made by First Lady Aisha Buhari, where she implied that the nation is currently being run by two or three individuals, has not helped to placate these allegations.
The electoral bill was previously passed three times by the National Assembly between February and July, however, assent was denied due to one infraction or the other, including grammatical errors.
