Electoral Bill: Buhari Asks National Assembly To Delete Section 84 (12), Says It Disenfranchises Political Officeholders
President Muhamadu Buhari has asked National Assembly to delete Section 84 (12) of amended Electoral Bill which was signed into law.
The President stated this in his speech on Friday while signing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law at a brief ceremony held at the Council Chamber of the Aso Villa in Abuja.
He believes the provision, as contained in the newly signed Act, constitutes a fundamental defect as it is in conflict with extant constitutional provisions.
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Buhari, in his address during the signing, pointed out that practical application of the section which states that “no political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the Convention or Congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election” would disenfranchise some eligible Nigerians.
According to him, Section 84(12) of Electoral Bill, if signed to law, subjects serving political office holders to inhibitions and restrictions referred to under sections 40 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
President Buhari argued that the;
Only constitutional expectation placed on serving political office holders that qualify, by extension as public officers within the context of the constitution is resignation, withdrawal or retirement at least 30 days before the date of the election.
Arising from the foregoing, with particular regards to the benefits of the Bill, industry, time, resources and energy committed in its passage, I hereby assent to the Bill and request the Nationally Assembly to consider immediate amendments that will bring the Bill in tune with constitutionality by way of deleting section 84(12) accordingly.
President Buhari stressed that the provision introduced qualification and disqualification criteria that ultra vires the Constitution by way of importing blanket restrictions to serving political officeholders.
He, however, acknowledged the ‘great deal of improvement’ in the Electoral Act, compared with the previous Electoral Bill, 2021.
According to the President, the law contains salient provisions that could positively revolutionise the nation’s elections via the introduction of new technological innovations.
He is also delighted that the Act would improve and engender clarity, effectiveness, and transparency of the election process, as well as reduce incidences of acrimony arising from dissatisfied candidates and political parties to the barest minimum.
