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‘Why Buhari Has Not Assented To Electoral Bill’
President Muhammadu Buhari has not assented to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021 because he is still consulting with the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and other stakeholders, his Senior Special Assistant National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Babajide Omoworare, has said.
Omoworare, who spoke yesterday in Abuja during a discussion organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in collaboration with Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), however, said the President is desirous of assenting the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The policy dialogue centred on “Electoral Bill 2021 and Quest for Presidential Assent: Matters Arising”.
The National Assembly had on Monday, January 31, transmitted the reworked Bill to the president for assent.
Omoworare said that consultations were ongoing by the president, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and other stakeholders to assent the bill.
“I have it in good authority that the attorney-general is deliberating with him at the moment and it is not just the attorney-general.
“For every bill that comes to the president, he consults before deciding to assent or withholding his assent with reasons in furtherance of the provision of the Constitution.
“We are aware that in spite of the fact that the president needs 30 days under Section 58 to sign, the president is desirous of signing it,” he said.
Also speaking, former Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega said that a good law was necessary for electoral integrity.
“We were in an unfortunate situation where a tendency had begun to develop, where both the Executive and Legislature did not see the necessity of urgent improvement in the electoral legal framework so that we can keep up upscaling the integrity our election.
“Luckily now, we have a good law arising from the reform process which commenced after the 2019 election.”
Jega, who said that though it was unfortunate that it had taken this long to amend the bill, noted that the legal framework was now perhaps “the best electoral law in our history.
“It will certainly add tremendous value to the integrity of our elections henceforth when it is signed.”
Similarly, Executive Director, YIAGA Africa, Mr Samson Itodo, said that it was inconsiderable for Nigeria to go into another round of election with the current Electoral Law.
“This Bill contains very remarkable proposed amendment. Since 2010, this is perhaps one of the best piece of electoral legislation in our country. We hope the president will assent to this.
“We just hope that the amount of time that the president used to communicate his decision in December won’t be the same case; and he assured us. And importantly, because we are in a national election emergency.
“If INEC needs to issue notice of election 360 days to the day of election, so by next week Friday, I think INEC should be issuing notice of election.
“If the Bill is not assented to, it is going to impact on the timelines for election,” Itodo said.
The Director-General,National Institute for Legislative Studies, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, said that it had become increasingly clear that the 2010 Electoral Act (as Amended) had outlived its importance.
“Hence, the need to complete the process of the 2021 Electoral Bill, awaiting presidential assent.”
Sulaiman said that as INEC prepares for the Ekiti and Ondo Governorship Elections and the 2023 General Election, it cannot do so in the uncertainty of whether a new legal framework will come into effect or not.
“Any delay in enacting the bill into law will directly make it difficult on the part of INEC’s preparation for the elections.”
He, however, said that indeed, the Bill had the potential of increasing the transparency, legitimacy and the confidence of the electorate in the country’s leadership recruitment process and democracy.
On his part, Chief Technical Adviser to INEC Chairman, Prof. Bolade Eyinla said that amending the bill “is a contentious issue.
“The applicability of a law is dependent on when it is signed, and when it is supposed to apply. For us in INEC, we will continue to plan our election based on Extant Laws and Regulations. If anyone is signed and it is applicable, this will be used,” Eyinla said.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr Olatunde Amos had transmitted the authenticated copies of the Electoral Bill 2022 to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari on January 31.
This was done in accordance with the provisions of Section 58 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2 LFN 2004.
Buhari declined assent to the Electoral Bill 2021 transmitted to him on November 19, 2021.
The electoral bill was thereafter reworked by the National Assembly and both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed the same on January 25.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.
The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.
Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.
“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.
“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.
Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.
“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.
“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.
“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.
He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.
“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.
“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.
The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.
Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.
He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.
On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.
Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.
After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.
They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.