After much delay and heightened expectations, the President, Muhammadu Buhari, has finally signed the Electoral Amendment Bill into law.
By Emma Ogbuehi
President Muhammadu Buhari has finally signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law.
The President assented to the bill on Friday at a brief ceremony held at the Council Chamber of the Aso Villa in Abuja.
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.
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Signing of Electoral Act Amendment Bill postponed till Friday
The exercise comes 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.
Amid an outcry over the delay in signing the bill into law, sources had indicated that President Buhari was billed to give his assent on Wednesday.
But the signing of the bill failed to take place as scheduled and was rescheduled to Friday, although sources said the President would honour the new date.
With the assent. Processes leading to the 2023 general elections, are expected to begin to take shape.