The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the National Assembly to use their constitutional power to override President Muhammadu Buhari on the Electoral Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill.
PDP made the call in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Monday in Abuja.
President Buhari in refusing to sign the bill had given reasons, which to the PDP were not sufficient.
“Mr. President is declining assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill due to some drafting issues that remain unaddressed following the prior revisions to the Bill.
“Mr. President invites the Senate and House of Representatives to address these issues as quickly as possible so that he may grant assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill,” presidential aide Ita Enang said.
Mr. Ologbondiyan said Mr. Buhari’s veto did not come as a surprise since his commitment to a free and fair 2019 election was “mere lip service”.
He said that it had become clear to Nigerians that the reasons adduced by the president for withholding assent to Bills were “lame excuses”.
“The clerical and drafting arguments put forward by President Buhari could not in any way outweigh the importance of amendments meant to engender free, fair, credible and transparent elections in 2019.
“The PDP, therefore, charges the National Assembly to stand with Nigerians in the overall quest for credible elections by immediately overriding President Buhari on the bill.”
(NAN)
