Presidency sets the record straight on electoral act amendment bill

The presidency on Wednesday spoke on the “true status” of the electoral act amendment bill, maintaining that President Muhammadu Buhari has not declined assent.

Garba Shehu, the president’s senior special assistant on media and publicity, said Buhari does not object the use of card readers in the 2019 elections.

He described allegation suggesting otherwise as “wild and baseless”.

Shehu said in a statement: “Our attention has been drawn to incorrect and misleading reporting in several newspapers regarding the status of the electoral act (amendment) bill, 2018.

“The presidency would like to set out the true status of the bill. The electoral act (amendment) bill, 2018, was sent by the national assembly to the presidency at the end of June 2018, for assent.

“Following extensive consideration, the presidency engaged with the national assembly to raise concerns regarding errors and inconsistencies found in the submitted version. Following this, the national assembly, on July 24, 2018, met to review and correct the bill.

“The bill was given on July 24, 2018, a “clause by clause consideration” by the senate. The votes and proceedings from the senate 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 senate votes and proceedings of Tuesday July 24, 2018: “The Senate: … notes that in the course of final cleaning of the Bill as passed, some provisions were found to negate the essence of the amendment; [and] Resolves to: 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, and recommit same to Committee of the whole for reconsideration and passage.”

The presidential aide further explained that the re-considered bill was passed by the senate on July 24, the same day that plenary was adjourned to September 25.

He disclosed that the revised version of the electoral act (amendment) bill, 2018, with corrections by the national assembly, and dated August 2, was received by the presidency on August 3 2018.

According to him, the president has 30 days from the date of receipt, to assent to or decline the bill.

“The bill is, therefore, still under consideration by the presidency,” he added.