This was disclosed by the PGF chairman, Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi State who led the delegation to Aso Rock
By Emma Ogbuehi
Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja to congratulate him for signing the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
The governors under the aegis of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) also congratulated Buhari on the victory of the APC in some of the by-elections conducted over the weekend.
This was disclosed by the PGF chairman, Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi State who led the delegation to Aso Rock.
The President assented to the bill on Friday at a brief ceremony held at the Council Chamber of the Aso Villa in Abuja.
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The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, witnessed the signing of the bill.
The exercise came barely a week to the expiration of the window the President has to take a decision on the proposed legislation, as required by the Nigerian Constitution.
The National Assembly transited the Bill to the President for assent on January 31. His delay in signing it into law, aroused curiosity among stakeholders including political actors and civil society groups. The leading opposition political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had at a time accused the president of trying to evade appending his signature on the Bill.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had also expressed concern at the delay, warning that the failure of the President to assent to the bill, would have drastic implications on the 2023 general elections.
Bagudu also vowed that despite the pressure put on the ruling party’s activities by the recently released election timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC will stick to the National Convention date of March 26.
Atiku Bagudu, who gave the assurance after a meeting of the forum with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, also debunked reports of division among APC Governors.
There had been speculations that a section of the party was pushing for a postponement of the national convention so that it will hold on the same day as the presidential primaries.
Apart from Bagudu, other APC Governors at the meeting were: Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Aminu Masari (Katsina); Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna); Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Hope Uzodinma (Imo); Gboyega Oyetola (Osun); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Sani Bello (Niger); Umar Ganduje (Kano) and out-going Anambra Deputy Governor Nkem Okeke.