Atiku, Govs, Lawan, Gbajabiamila, Saraki, opposition parties, others hail president
PRESIDENT Buhari has received applause from Nigerians across party divide for signing the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill 2022 into law.
Speaking yesterday, the president, who highlighted the content and advantages of the Act, urged the National Assembly to immediately amend Section 84 of the Act, in line with the nation’s 1999 Constitution as amended.
He expressed the hope that the law would promote sound electoral processes and good governance in the country.
The leadership of the National Assembly led by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, witnessed the signing of the bill at the Council Chamber, State House, Abuja.
Others at the Council Chamber included Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.
In reaction his main rival at the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, said, “now that the legal framework for the 2023 elections is in place following President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent to the Electoral Bill, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) needs to roll-out the election guidelines in earnest so that the political parties and Nigerians can fully commence the journey to choose their leaders in 2023.
“I wish to acknowledge the work of the legislature in bringing this law with new innovations into fruition. I also pay tribute to the nudge of the civil society and patriotic Nigerians in making this brand new Electoral Act a reality.”
Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Kayode Fayemi said Buhari has silenced his critics.
He said the gesture of the President has exonerated him and his colleagues who had assured that the document would be signed.
Fayemi made these observations when he spoke to State House Correspondents, shortly after the President assented to the bill.
Commenting on the impact of the bill, he said, “Yes. I think it’s a huge relief that this piece of legislation has been finally signed 12 years after the last one. The last Electoral Act operating is a 2010 Act. And we must commend the National Assembly, particularly the committee on INEC both in the Senate and the House of Reps for doing such a yeoman’s job of putting this together, and ensuring that we have a law, that can accord with global standards, and with the yearnings of the ordinary Nigerians.
“There’s been a lot of hullabaloo about this over the last few weeks, even bordering on scepticism that it would not be signed. I’m glad that some of us have been proved right because we told the media that Mr President will sign this piece of legislation as soon as the section that he raised concerns about are removed from the legislation, and they’ve been removed, and he’s lived up to that belief that many of us have because he has always said to Nigerians anyway, that one legacy he would like to leave as he departs office is a credible and fair electoral system.
“This will go a long way in making that possible.”
On his part, Senate President, Ahmed Lawan said the National Assembly will be willing to consider President Buhari’s request as soon as a Bill to that effect is brought before them.
His words: “You know, this is a legitimate request. And that is why I commend the president. I will commend him for so many things, but let me also qualify it that even though he had a disagreement with the section, especially clause 84(12), that talks about public political office holders, he still went ahead to sign the bill into law and that is to show his commitment and desire to have an electoral law that will ensure that we have better outcomes when we do election.
“So we will look at what is he asking for, I hope that they will send the request for the amendment in good time. Because time is of essence, INEC is waiting. And because we don’t want to spill over some of these dates, unnecessarily. We will be expecting a communication from Mr. President with respect to this. And then the National Assembly in both chambers will look into the request for amendment but on the whole I think this is a wonderful development for this administration, for Nigeria, for the evolution and development and growth of democracy in Nigeria”.
Speaking in the same vein, Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, stressed that if the provisions of the Act were properly managed by INEC it will mark a watershed in the nation’s election history.
According to him: “I believe it’s a landmark piece of legislation, and has far reaching and I mean, far reaching implications of the provisions contained therein. I can count off head at least 10 to 15 provisions in that electoral law, that if properly executed by INEC, and the people who the laws are made for, it will be a turning point in electoral history of Nigeria. And we will witness, not just by mouthing free, fair and credible elections, but we will actually witness free, fair and credible elections moving forward”.
Meanwhile, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in a statement by the head of his media office, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said although Buhari deserves praise for rising above partisan politics to sign the bill, CSOs deserve big applause for continuously agitating for the passage of the new Electoral Act in the past one year.
He said the old electoral law had been part of Nigeria’s problems.
“The new Electoral Act brings us closer to having free, fair, and peaceful elections in which people’s votes count, where the majority will have their way and the minority will have their say,” he noted.
Saraki recalled the various efforts that he and his colleagues made in the eighth National Assembly to give the country a new Electoral Act which led to the submission of the bill four times without getting the presidential assent.
“I enjoin these youths in the CSOs to take their efforts to another level. That is the level of mobilising their numerous colleagues to go and register to vote in the coming general elections,” Saraki added.
Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who said he had been part of the nation’s electoral reform for over 10 years, added “the journey to the new Electoral Act was by far the most frustrating.”
Ekweremadu said, “After the major electoral reform of 2010 that also involved amendments to the 1999 Constitution to, among others, open the doors to technology in our electoral system, check some executive excesses, manipulations by political parties, and strengthen the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through financial and administrative autonomy, our expectation after amendments to the Electoral Act in 2015 was that the new administration would support the National Assembly to further straighten our electoral laws and system.
“Unfortunately, four times, the amendments were turned down in the 8th National Assembly, apparently thwarted by narrow, partisan interests and ambitions.
“The efforts in the current National Assembly also faced similar challenges, but it is heart-warming that it has finally materialised with the presidential assent.
“Certainly, we didn’t get all we pushed for in the new law, but it is nevertheless a quantum leap for our electoral system and I congratulate all, who played a part in it, notably the civil society, media, and all Nigerians, who stood up for the nation’s democracy.
“With the electronic transmission of election results, early primary elections, and adequate time for INEC to prepare for elections, among other breakthroughs, our elections will never be the same again and more Nigerians will be encouraged to exercise their franchise, knowing that their votes will count.”
Aliyu Wamakko, the Senator representing Sokoto-North, says with the signing of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022, President Buhari has turned out to be a true democrat.
The lawmaker said: “President Buhari deserves a pat on the back for acceding to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.
“This singular action of the President has shown that he is a true democrat who is committed to enthroning a lasting democracy in the country.”
The former governor of Sokoto State further stated that the signing of the amended Electoral Act was a good omen to the forthcoming 2023 general election.
Similarly, presidential aspirant, Pius Anyim, commended the President Buhari for signing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law.
In a statement released by his Media Office and signed by Sam Nwaobasi on Friday, Anyim commended Buhari for “acting like a patriotic National leader by signing the Bill.”
The Peoples Democratic Party presidential aspirant observed that it “takes a man committed to the good of Nigeria to sign the Bill despite his objection to some provisions of the Bill.”
He said this in a post on his verified Facebook page titled, ‘The New Electoral Act Is Progress For Our Democracy,’ shared on Friday shortly after the President signed the bill into law.
Anyim also stated that “without the Electoral Act in place, the conduct of the 2023 general elections would be in jeopardy.
“Already, the country and the Independent National Electoral Commission were on edge over the delay in signing the Bill before Friday.
“With the Electoral Act in place, a significant step towards the conduct of credible elections next year has been taken, as the INEC, the political parties, aspirants and other critical stakeholders now have a legal document to guide them,” Anyim posited.
In an apparent attack on the Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress said it’s “a big win for our electioneering processes and our democracy.”
In a statement signed by the Secretary APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), the APC urged well-meaning Nigerians to join in completely stamping out past practices of electoral fraud weaponised by past administrations of the PDP.
“Since 2015 when the President Buhari-led APC government came into being, our commitment and support for constitutionally-permitted innovations that will improve the transparency and credibility of Nigeria’s electioneering processes and internal democracy, have not been in doubt. The new Electoral Act is another pointer.
“From legal backing given to election management bodies to review election results declared under duress, provisions for people with disabilities and special needs, electronic transmission of election results among other key provisions, current and coming generations will fondly remember President Buhari as the courageous leader who institutionalised credible elections and internal democracy in Nigeria.
“We note with appreciation the patriotic efforts of the National Assembly, civil societies, development partners and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians whose collective efforts and support has birthed the new Electoral Act.
“The task of improving the credibility of our elections is a collective and continuous one. As a party and government, we will continue to champion needed reforms.
“We hereby call on well-meaning Nigerians to join us to completely stamp out past practices of electoral fraud weaponised by past administrations of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” the statement read.
Opposition parties in the country also applauded President Buhari for the development.
Spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, in a statement, said they were elated that the President conceded to the wishes of the people.
He said: “We received with extreme joy the news of the signing into law of the amended Electoral Act by President Muhammadu Buhari. Though delayed and allowing for Nigerians to mount pressure calling for assent to the law, Nigerian opposition coalition is elated that finally Nigeria has a law that will revolutionize our electoral processes.
“We therefore commend President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to the Bill thereby creating a new and advanced legal framework for our elections.
“We also commend the National Assembly for their commitment and effort and ensuring that the law is amended and that there is now legal backing for some of the innovations introduced by INEC.
“We further commend the Civil Society and indeed Nigerians for not letting go or reducing the pressure on both the National Assembly and the President to sign. They have done Nigeria proud.
“We also commend the opposition family for holding the government to account on the need to amend the electoral law early enough to allow INEC ample time to implement the law for a free, fair and very credible 2023 general election.
“We also commend INEC for its contributions and innovations which led to this very robust amendment to the electoral Act. We also remind the Commission that with today’s assent to the Bill, the ball is now squarely in the court of the Commission to begin in earnest to plan for the elections urging them to release the election timetable soonest to ensure stability and certainty in the process and in the polity.
“We call on all political parties to put their acts together and embrace internal party democracy as this will enable only popular individuals to emerge as candidates of their parties as doing otherwise will lead to their failure as only candidates voted for by Nigerians can now win elections in Nigeria since the 2023 election is highly anticipated to be free, fair and credible.”
But Wike said Buhari’s complaint that Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act, 2022 will disenfranchise serving political office holders is selfish and not altruistic.
The Governor said if President Buhari truly believes in the transparent election and that everybody should have a level playing ground, he will not be suggesting the amendment of the section which he claims will disenfranchise serving political office holders from voting or being voted for at conventions or congresses of any political party.
He noted that the President’s complaint that Section 84 (12) is ultra vires with the 1999 Constitution as amended, is neither here nor there.
“Mr President has told the world he is trying to protect some of his appointees who want to run election, and who are afraid of leaving the office knowing full well that having left the office it would be difficult for them to assert or to influence the outcome of party primaries.
If Mr President really believes in free, fair and transparent election, and for everybody to have a level playing ground, Mr President will not call for such amendment.”
Governor Wike observed that President Buhari was not willing to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law, but had to succumb to pressure mounted on him by Nigerians. According to him, if the President had declined assent on the bill, the National Assembly would have been embarrassed and lost public confidence.
“For whatever it is worth, let us say Nigerians are happy that after all said and done, the President and the APC administration for the first time have bowed to pressure of Nigerians in order to have a law that enables our electoral process to be transparent. But again, this tells you the kind of party in power.”
