The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the National Assembly to use
their constitutional power to override President Muhammadu Buhari on the
Electoral Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill.
PDP made the call in a statement issued by its National Publicity
Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Monday in Abuja.
President Buhari in refusing to sign the bill had given reasons, which to
the PDP were not sufficient.
“Mr President is declining assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill due to
some drafting issues that remain unaddressed following the prior revisions
to the Bill.
“Mr President invites the Senate and House of Representatives to address
these issues as quickly as possible so that he may grant assent to the
Electoral Amendment Bill,” presidential aide Ita Enang said.
Mr Ologbondiyan said Mr Buhari’s veto did not come as a surprise, since
his commitment to a free and fair 2019 election was “mere lip service”.
He said that it had become clear to Nigerians that the reasons adduced by
the president for withholding assent to Bills were “lame excuses”.
“The clerical and drafting arguments put forward by President Buhari could
not in any way outweigh the importance of amendments meant to engender
free, fair, credible and transparent elections in 2019.
“The PDP therefore charges the National Assembly to stand with Nigerians
in the overall quest for credible elections by immediately overriding
President Buhari on the bill.” (NAN)