Electoral Act Amendment Bill: See Why President Buhari Refused To Grant Assent

President Muhammadu Buhari's failure to assent to the Electorial Act Amendment Bill has generated a lot of mixed reactions.

Instead of appending his signature, the President directed the National Assembly to remove the clause that has to do with direct primaries from the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

It was gathered that President Buhari directed  the Nigerian Senate by a letter to discard the controversial clause on direct primaries from the bill and return the proposed law to him for assent.

The content of the letter was confirmed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, who also confirmed that the letter has been sent to the National Assembly.

“It is a privileged communication so it is for the National Assembly to disclose the contents,” he added.

According to PUNCH, a source who was privy to the content of the letter said the President refused assent because political parties had their various constitutions that stipulated mode of primaries that should be adopted.

The mode of primaries against each party's constitutions may be too expensive, especially for small parties will be marginalised.

According to the source, the President argued that it would be unconstitutional to force parties to adopt direct primaries.

The National Assembly had transmitted the bill to the President on November 19, 2021.