President Muhammadu Buhari may be in for civil disobedience if he fails to assent to, any time soon, the Electoral Bill amended recently and sent to him by the National Assembly.
Buhari has, since 2015, refused to assent to the document several times, fuelling the belief by many observers that his promise to leave behind a legacy of a robust electoral process may be a fluke.
Recall that the Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and Country director, ActionAids Nigeria, Ene Obi,
while speaking on a television programme on Wednesday, said President Buhari was toying with the lives of Nigerians and the future of Nigeria.
Obi wondered if the President was playing pranks or a gimmick. She also wondered what is difficult in signing the Electoral Bill, saying that if the President could sign the Appropriation and the Petroleum Industry Bills despite the issues raised in them, the Electoral Bill should also not be an issue.
It is like toying with the lives of Nigerians; we have elections coming and you are tying our hands, she further said.
By the same token, the House of Reps. member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia-North/Umuahia Federal Constituency for Abia State and member of the APC, Sam Onuigbo, blamed some bad elements for frustrating the efforts of Nigerians to have credible elections. The federal lawmaker wondered why Nigeria has continued to be described as a nascent and fledgling democracy after 24 unbroken years of civil rule.
Also, a former National vice chairman (South-West) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Eddy Olafeso, warned that time was running out for President Buhari to do the needful, while expressing concerns about the state of the country and the ability of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free and fair election next year. He, however, implored public office holders to prepare the ground for INEC to conduct a free and fair election next year.
It also worries many concerned citizens why President Buhari has refused to give his assent to the amended Bill, and also forcing people to ask the National Assembly to look for other means to pass the Bill into law.
However, most observers think that there are many other critical issues, which the president has treated with levity and that the assent to the amended electoral bill may be given by the coming president.
The amended Electoral Bill was passed by the National Assembly on January 25, 2022, and it provided political parties with three models of primary elections: direct, indirect, and consensus.
The most recent transmission of the electoral bill to Buhari marks the sixth time he (Buhari) will be tasked with signing legislation aimed at reforming the countrys electoral system.
The amended Electoral Bill included strict guidelines for implementing the various primary election models. These guidelines are intended to prevent political parties from being forced to accept candidates.
The Presidency issued a statement on January 31 titled: Transmission of the Electoral Bill 2022, to acknowledge the transmission of the Electoral Bill to Buhari.
Nigerians are hoping that Buhari will sign the electoral bill into law as soon as possible so that INEC can begin planning for the 2023 general election.
INEC had previously stated that the timetable for the 2023 general election would not be released until the electoral bill was signed into law.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated at a consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja on January 19 that as soon as it (the Electoral Bill) is signed into law, the Commission would quickly release the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election based on the new law.
