Our attention has been drawn to incorrect and misleading reporting regarding the status of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018.
This is the true position:
The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was sent by @nassnigeria to the President on June 27, 2018, for assent.
@NGRSenate @HouseNGR
The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was sent by @nassnigeria to the President on June 27, 2018, for assent.
@NGRSenate @HouseNGR
Following extensive consideration of the Bill, the Presidency engaged with the National Assembly to raise concerns regarding technical & legal errors/issues found in the submitted version. Following this, the National Assembly met, on July 24, 2018, to revise the Bill.
As part of the revision process, the Bill was given, on July 24, 2018, a “clause by clause consideration” by the Senate, as this series of tweets from @NGRSenate clearly shows:
The Votes and Proceedings from @NGRSenate on July 24, 2018, attest to this. The Senate resolved to rescind its decision on a number of clauses included in the version they had earlier sent for consideration by the President, and to reconsider these clauses.
According to the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday July 24, 2018 (specifically No. 10, below)
“The Senate: … notes that in the cause of final cleaning of the Bill as passed some provisions were found to negate the essence of the amendment; [and] Resolves to:”
[cont’d]
“The Senate: … notes that in the cause of final cleaning of the Bill as passed some provisions were found to negate the essence of the amendment; [and] Resolves to:”
[cont’d]
[cont’d]
“... Rescind its decision on Clauses 3,5,8,11(2), 13(b), 14 (4), 15(3), 18,21,23,24,28,32 and 38 of the Bill
as passed, as and recommit same to Committee of the whole for reconsideration and passage (Senate Leader).”
“... Rescind its decision on Clauses 3,5,8,11(2), 13(b), 14 (4), 15(3), 18,21,23,24,28,32 and 38 of the Bill
as passed, as and recommit same to Committee of the whole for reconsideration and passage (Senate Leader).”
The re-considered Bill was passed by @NGRSenate on July 24, 2018—the same day that plenary was adjourned to September 25, 2018.
This revised version of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018, with corrections by @nassnigeria, and dated the 2nd of August, 2018, was received by the Presidency on the 3rd of August, 2018. The President has 30 days from the date of receipt, to assent to or decline the Bill.
The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018, is therefore STILL under consideration by the Presidency.
Also, the allegations that the President declined assent to the Bill because of objections to the use of card readers are wild and baseless.
President Buhari is a passionate advocate for the use of PVCs and Card Readers in elections in Nigeria, and has repeatedly made this clear
President Buhari is a passionate advocate for the use of PVCs and Card Readers in elections in Nigeria, and has repeatedly made this clear
