Buhari’s Refusal To Sign Electoral Bill Not Surprising, Says Senator Ajibola Basiru

The refusal of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), not to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law is not surprising, Spokesman for the Senate, Ajibola Basiru, has said.

He spoke on Tuesday on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.

When asked about his reaction, Basiru said, “I am not disappointed at all. In fact, I would have been surprised if he (Buhari) had given assent given certain circumstances and unnecessary controversies particularly within the ruling party (All Progressives Congress) as to the basis with which direct primaries was inserted.”

Recall that the President in a letter to the Senate and the House of Representatives, asked the National Assembly to remove the controversial clause on direct primaries from the bill and return the proposed law to him for assent.

Buhari also cited insecurity as one of his reasons for withholding his assent to the bill for the second time.

The bill was transmitted to the President on November 19, 2021, after both chambers of the National Assembly hurriedly passed it against the wishes of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress.

Apart from mandatory direct primaries, the bill also makes a provision for electronic transmission of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission and increases the limit for election spending by candidates.

Many civil society organisations have since been mounting pressure on the 9th Assembly to override Buhari’s veto and pass the bill into law but the Assembly said it would discuss the bill upon resumption in January 2022.
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