Electoral Amendment Bill: Senate delays plan to override Buhari

…To consult House of Reps

…Insecurity not enough to stop mass participation in elections —Falana

Abimbola Abatta and Abiodun Grace

Amid growing concerns over President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law, the Senate has delayed the initial plan to override the president’s decision.

President Buhari had ascribed his decision to the cost of conducting direct primary elections, security challenges, and possible manipulation of electoral processes by political actors.

The lawmakers on Wednesday resumed plenary with a closed-door session held for a few minutes to discuss President Buhari’s decision not to assent to the bill.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan, at the end of the session, disclosed that the lawmakers have decided to wait for their colleagues in the House of Representatives to resume before taking any action.

He noted that whatever step they need to take would involve the House of Representatives, adding that the Senate will consult with their constituents and other stakeholders during the Christmas and New Year break.

Earlier on Tuesday, Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila said the House will address the matter in January 2022 while maintaining that the time was short to address the sensitive issue in haste.

According to Gbajabiamila, members were set to proceed on break and must pass other important bills such as the 2022 Appropriation Bill and the Finance Bill before doing so.

Meanwhile, President Buhari’s decline to the Electoral Amendment Bill has generated mixed reactions among stakeholders.

While civil society organisations (CSOs) and some federal lawmakers expressed their disappointment at the development, Governors such as Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and Samuel Ortom of Benue State approved the President’s decision.

Insecurity, not enough to stop participation in elections – Falana

Renowned Nigerian lawyer and Human right activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has declared that insecurity is not enough to stop participation in elections.

Falana equally opined that direct primaries should not lead to litigation unless the process is manipulated, noting that there is provision for direct and indirect primaries in the constitution.

He suggested that Nigerians need to take personal interest in security in order to bring a lasting solution to the insecurity challenges in the country.

According to him, “People were talking about security. People said that they should conduct elections in the various polling units, but we do not understand by the primaries there’s a lot of steps because politicians do anything to get the party tickets.

“I understand and can discuss political issues because I have been into politics for a long time. I have conducted many elections and knows everything about politics when it comes to primaries.

“On security issues, we have to look at the law, the electoral party, and the constitution as well as their resent experience in democracy parties. In the first place, we have to appreciate that we are not dealing with the ruling parties when dealing with democracy in Nigeria. Under section 7 on the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, there’s provision for direct or indirect primaries.

“The first time the APC as a political party adopted direct primary in Nigeria was on 27th of July 2018, in Osun state and that was how Mr Gboyega Oyetola and out of the three candidates in House of Assembly contested and the process was open and transparent.

“The second time APC adopted direct primary was on the 29th of September 2018. In presidential candidates of the party for the 2019 election and the candidates was President Mohammad Buhari. So direct primaries should not lead to litigation unless the process is manipulated.

“Insecurity must not be a reason not to participate in elections in any part of the country. We need to take personal interest so that we can see a solution to the insecurity in our country.

“Political parties have options, some are concerned that the option manipulated by setting political interests to the democracy,” he added.