Nigeria: Despite calls from various quarters, including the diplomatic community, for President Muhammadu Buhari to ink the amended electoral bill relaid to him by the National Assembly on November 19, the president has continued to keep the people in suspense, even though the 30-day deadline to assent to the bill or return it to the legislature has passed.
Even though the president has not mentioned it since receiving the electoral bill, the bill has been mired in controversy between those urging Buhari to sign it to increase participatory democracy, as evidenced by the approval of direct primaries, and those who have reservations about the model of political parties electing candidates.
While the National Rescue Movement (NRM) has accused Buhari of failing to sign the bill, an ex-member of the House of Representatives, Timothy Golu, has voiced optimism that the president will finally sign it.
According to recent newspaper reports, the president may have bowed in to pressure from several governors in his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and refused to sign the bill because direct primaries would be too expensive to run.
The presidency and the National Assembly, on the other hand, quickly dismissed it as false. While one of Buhari’s spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, stated that he had not been briefed on the matter and that it was consequently incorrect, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, also noted that it was false.
Those advocating for indirect primaries were alleged to have suddenly reignited their agenda, although the president still had a few days before the deadline.
They have reached an agreement with a section of the National Assembly leadership, according to sources, that they will persuade the president to return the bill to them on the grounds that he wants specific clauses amended, but that once that is done, they should file it away and not deal with it until after the elections.
Although sources claim that the president was persuaded to inform the National Assembly’s principal officers that he would withhold his consent if they did not reconsider the timing for political parties to submit candidate lists from 180 days to 90 days, as stipulated in the 2010 amended electoral act, it is a ruse to sabotage the entire process.
Those who want the president to leave a legacy of a sound and long-lasting electoral system, on the other hand, have insisted that even if he returns the bill due to a few contentious clauses, such as direct primaries, he must ensure that the current effort to reform the electoral system through many other clauses does not go to waste.
Those in favour of the president assenting to the law as is and believing he will sign it ultimately have claimed that returning a bill to the legislature is a considerably longer procedure than just signing it, therefore their belief that the president had only kept the decision to himself.
“You also need to understand the procedure, since there is a process or, if you like, protocol to these things,” according to a THISDAY news report published yesterday, which quoted a presidential source. Remember that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, wrote to the president shortly after the bill was sent to him by the National Assembly, advising him against signing it.
“After that, the governors took up the campaign and demanded that the aspect of direct primaries be removed, citing a variety of grounds that could not be reconciled with logic. However, if the president would listen to his AGF or cave in to the governors’ pressure, he would have directed the AGF to submit a letter of response to the National Assembly.
“Thus, if such a process had been launched, you would have known that the president would not sign it, based on the same channel of communication and advice from his AGF.” But, since it was handed to him, the president has remained silent. “Knowing that signing is only a tiny ceremony and completely the president’s option,” the source added, “he might choose to delay it and sign whenever he wants for as long as it is before the deadline.”
“If there was going to be any communication rejecting the bill, he would have triggered the process before they embark on their recess, of which they wouldn’t be back until later in January, and by which time, the process for the Ekiti and Osun States governorship elections would have begun,” the source added, citing the fact that the National Assembly would go on recess today, Thursday, December 16.
“I mean, the president writing to the National Assembly after they had gone on recess defies logic.” So, if he doesn’t write them between now and Thursday, when they’ll be on recess, it’s a done deal. Because the signing ceremony is his personal business, he will sign it,” the insider added.
Furthermore, the source said Buhari was mindful of his commitment to the diplomatic community, citing the president’s remarks at a recent virtual Summit for Democracy hosted by US President Joe Biden. He reiterated his commitment to leaving a lasting legacy of credible polls for the country’s democratic development.
“As we approach our next general election in 2023, we remain committed to putting in place and strengthening all necessary mechanisms to ensure that Nigeria not only records another peaceful transfer of power to an elected democratic government but also conducts elections that are free, fair, and transparent,” Buhari said at the summit.
Meanwhile, the National Rescue Movement (NRM), a political party, accused the president of failing to reciprocate the customary friendly connection between the Executive and the current National Assembly by refusing to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill handed to him.
Senator Saidu Dansadau, the party’s national chairman, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s conduct was unfair to the National Assembly. He spoke at the end of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.
“If any president has received maximum collaboration since 1999, it is President Muhammadu Buhari, and for the National Assembly to respond to the aspirations of the majority of Nigerians by passing the law as demanded by Nigerians.”
“We also witnessed on national television that APC governors convened and declared their opposition to the bill that would assure free and fair elections in the country.” They then went to President and pleaded with him to keep his assent by returning the bill to the National Assembly.
“He (Buhari) is unfair to the National Assembly in my opinion.” He has not returned their kindness throughout the six and a half years that they have shown him. He has also been unjust to Nigerians who elected him because most Nigerians are interested in the passing of this bill, which is unacceptable to Nigerians.
“I asked to President to assent to that bill without any doctoring in the name of God,” he stated. “I also appeal to members of the National Assembly to oppose any attempt by the president to tinker with what they have done.”
In addition, Golu stated that the president has been in contact with various persons from the villa regarding the bill, while urging the National Assembly to inspire Nigerians and assure them that the bill will be signed eventually.
Golu, speaking on ARISE NEWS Television’s Morning Show yesterday, said he felt the National Assembly would stay firm since they were not doing it for the president or the party, but for the sake of democracy.
“You can see the degree of happiness and enthusiasm in Nigeria. Everybody is watching and listening to what is going on with the election reforms on a daily basis. He has no reason to refuse to sign it. We’re waiting patiently. After all, it’ll be a legacy because it’s prompted many people to sign up for political parties.
“Most Nigerians are not members of any political party since they are not involved in selecting or nominating flag bearers. They only vote in general elections, where they are forced to vote for flag bearers or ticket holders,” he explained.
He explained that direct primaries depended on whether the country used a delegate system or a direct primary system.
“I believe that four or three days should not be a problem because he has signed bills towards the end of the minimum time frame before, so whatever happens, members of the public will be there to hold their representatives accountable in case the president decides otherwise, which is highly unlikely.”
“I don’t believe the president is prepared to be embarrassed at that level by the National Assembly.” The question is, did you win your elections in the manner in which they were supposed to be won? Those who don’t want it to be known, those who didn’t want it to be known, know what they did to come to the National Assembly,” Golu added.
While urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to observe primary elections as required by the present electoral statute, he also emphasised that political parties helped to keep these things in order because it would be a systematic procedure with proper accreditation.
“I urge them not to allow partisanship, and I want to think that the National Assembly will not toy with what the nation has been looking up to in their own conscience.” He stated that “no one should be above the election act or the constitution.”
