A Civil Society group under the auspices of Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Justice and Equity (CCSO-JE) has thrown its weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign the electoral amendment bill.
The National Assembly had recently passed into law the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2018, a Bill which sought to amend the provisions of the 2015 Electoral Act, and provision of a legal framework which regulates the conducts of elections in Nigeria.
Speaking on Tuesday at a press briefing on the Amendment Bill in Abuja, the Chief Convener, CCSO-JE, Olayemi Success stated that the President had acted in the best interest of the country.
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According to him, the debate 8and arguments that tailed the President’s move was unfounded and unnecessary considering the limited time remaining before the 2019 General Elections and ECOWAS treaties on Electoral Laws.
“ flowing from the foregoing, we strongly believe that the misconceptions that have arisen in some quarters about the ‘mini skirt” nature of Mr.President’s letter to the National Assembly are unnecessary as it regards the timing of the Bill and its application to the 2019 General Elections, and the Articles 2 of the 2001 ECOWAS.
“Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance which provides that no substantial modification shall be made to the Electoral Laws in Six (6) months before the election, except with the consent of a majority of political actors,” he added.
He also opined that if the bill had been signed into law, this may have led to the postponement of the forthcoming general elections.
“we take side with the action of Mr President as it is in the best interest of the nation at this particular time, we urge all critical stakeholders in the electioneering process to understand and appreciate the decision of Mr President to decline assent to the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2018,” he added.
End time civil society. Enemy of progress.
Elections boycott is possible
Orotosho Folorunsho James Let’s put emotion and sentiment apart, but you’re knowledgeable enough to know what is wrong with the electoral amendment bill.