By Tunde Johnson, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected the Amended Electoral Bill sent for his assent by the National Assembly.
The President said he withheld his assent to the bill because the amendment to the sequence of the elections in Section 25 of the Principal Act might infringe upon the constitutionally guaranteed discretion of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said the amendment to Section 138 of the Principal Act to delete two crucial grounds upon which an election may be challenged by candidates, unduly limits rights of candidates in elections to a free and fair electoral review process.
Buhari noted that the amendment to section 152 (325) of the Principal Act may also raise constitutional issues over the competence of the National Assembly to legislate over Local Government elections.
Elendu Reports gathered that the bill provides for the Presidential election to come last after National Assembly and Governorship elections.
However, his decision to withhold the assent about his action was contained in a letter dated March 3, 2018, which was read by Bukola Saraki the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki during plenary.
He stated that the section guaranteed the INEC to organise, undertake and supervise all the elections as provided in Section 15 (a) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution.
According to him, ”The amendment to Section 138 of the Principal Act to delete two crucial grounds upon which an election may be challenged by candidates, unduly limits rights of candidates in elections to a free and fair electoral review process.
“The amendment to section 152 (325) of the Principal Act may raise constitutional issues over the competence of the National Assembly to legislate over Local Government elections.
“Please accept Mr Senate President the assurances of my highest consideration.”
