President Buhari Withholds Assent To Electoral Amendment Bill, See Why

President Buhari has withheld assent to electoral amendment bill.

Newsone reports that Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the National Assembly, explaining reasons he didn’t assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill.

This online news platform understands that President Buhari’s decision to write the National Assembly came at a time deadline for the expected presidential assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021, elapsed last Friday.

Giving reason for his decision, Newsone reports that President Buhari pointed out the high cost of conducting primary elections as reasons he withheld assent to the bill.

President Buhari also cited heightened insecurity as another reason, saying that it would be too risky to monitor direct primary elections, which may result in violation of people’s rights.

According to the President, small political parties that lack capacity and structure would be marginally denied which he said, he has taken his time to study the bill and wasn’t in the interest of the country.

Meanwhile, Newsone Nigeria is monitoring the situation and would bring details after the plenary on Tuesday.