DESPITE the corrections made in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill by the National Assembly as requested by President Muhammadu Buhari, the President is not bound to sign it into law, Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, has posited.
The bill has already been forwarded to the President for his assent.
But speaking with correspondents after observing his Friday prayers at the State House, Abuja, Senator Lawan, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Yobe State, said despite the effort of the lawmakers, the President reserves his right to determine the fate of the bill.
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He said it was the President’s prerogative to take his time to scrutinize the bill before deciding what to do with it.
Lawan said even if Buhari does not sign the bill into law, the nation can rely on the 2006 Electoral Act to conduct future elections.
He maintained that the opposition has no right to demand that President Buhari should assent to the bill transmitted to him.
Asked why the President had not signed into law the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, the Senate Leader responded: “President Muhammadu Buhari has signed more bills than previous presidents in this country.
“Secondly, he has read and objected to certain provisions in many bills that were eventually sent back to the National Assembly to look at and then return for further legislative actions for him to look at it again.
“Previous government of President (Goodluck) Jonathan didn’t sign much; they kept most of the bills sent by the National Assembly. So, I want to give kudos to the President for ensuring that he looks into the bills before signing. Some he said he won’t sign because of this or that provisions which are either contradictory constitutionally or maybe it will cause more harm than good, so, therefore, the National Assembly should look into it again.
“The electoral bill you are talking about has been sent back twice or thrice, that is to tell you that the president is willing to sign the bill provided it meets certain conditions that will make our electoral processes better and more sane.
“So, the President is studying this bill, it is not like you will send it to him and he will immediately sign. This is a sign that he is really interested in what we sent back to him. It is for him and his advisers to read through line by line and see how best the electoral process can be enhanced.
“So, I don’t think we have run out of time, in fact, I think we should encourage the president and those helping him to complete going through the bill before he signs. What is the problem?
“We still have the 2006 Electoral Act as amended that we used in 2015 for an election that was adjudged to be free, fair and an improved process. We don’t necessarily put so much pressure and unneeded criticism of the president when he is yet to complete his analysis of what has been sent to him. He needs to take his time.”
He further said: “I am not advocating that he withholds assent but if he does, that is his right. I want to tell you that the APC caucus in the National Assembly stands with Mr. President on this.”
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