The Independent National Electoral Commission has reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter over the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Why it matters?
Members of the National Assembly and House of Representatives had made amendments to the Electoral Bill and sent it to the President on the 19th of November. President Buhari, who has 30days to either sign the bill into law or suggest some recommendations to the lawmakers, then sought the opinion of the electoral body.
In response to the President’s letter, the National Commissioner of INEC and chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said “its position constitutionally, legally and administratively was that the electoral management body is the end user of the electoral legal framework.”
He further added, “This is the democratic way to go and the commission will make its views known to the President bearing in mind the overriding national interest and interest of our democracy”.
The President has until the 19th of December to sign the bill. If not, the lawmakers with two-third in agreement can sign the amendment into law.