Electoral Bill: Groups hopeful for NASS to veto

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Transparency International Nigeria, expressed hope for the National Assembly to veto President Buhari’s decision not to sign and pass the bill into law ahead of 2023.

According to a statement signed by the Executive Director, CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Rafsanjani, who also doubles as Head, TI, Nigeria/Chairman, Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, he pointed out that the bill seeks to improve the electoral system.  It provides the legal backing for using technology in the accreditation of voters and transmission of election results.

It also seeks to enhance timelines for electoral activities, including voting, collation, and announcement of results, and adequately defines over-voting, confers authority on INEC to review questionable election results and monitor direct primaries for all political parties.

The statement reads, “The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Transparency International (TI) Nigeria would like to express our disappointment over the failure of the President to sign the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021. In furtherance to this, we strongly urge the National Assembly to veto the President on this matter.

“Elections remain a critical aspect of democracy as it is the gateway for all citizens to achieve their aspirations for democracy and can only achieve a transparent election by creating a robust legal framework that can respond to the current challenges we face.

“The Bill seeks to improve the electoral system by providing the legal backing for the use of technology in the accreditation of voters and transmission of election results.

“It seeks to enhance timelines for electoral activities, including voting, collation, and announcement of results, and adequately defines over-voting, confers authority on INEC to review questionable election results and monitor direct primaries for all political parties.”

Meanwhile, the statement made it clear that the bill’s benefits include increased transparency in the electoral process; citizens will be encouraged to participate in the electoral process as aspirants and voters, and help improve the ideology of Nigerian elections by reducing the reliance on dirty money.

“We call on the 9th Assembly to etch its name in gold in the right pages of our history by exercising its powers under S. 58 (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) which states that ‘Where the President withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by a two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law, and the assent of the President shall not be required’.

“If the National Assembly vetoes the President, it will show their independence and above all, respect the view of the constituents who gave them the mandate to legislate on their behalf. NASS cannot afford to disappoint Nigerians!,” it added.

Suzan O./NAN