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PDP Lawmakers Urge President Buhari to Sign Electoral Act Amendment Bill into Law

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Assembly caucus has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sign the revised Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law, citing that the National Assembly has "bent backwards" to accommodate his requests. The lawmakers made this call during a meeting with members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party at the National Assembly on Monday, pointing out that the president no longer has a reason to delay or decline assent to the bill. The PDP caucus is one of many groups urging the president to quickly sign the bill into law, as it will enable the implementation of electoral reforms. The bill was transmitted to the president for assent on Monday, with changes made to the controversial Clause 84, which deals with the mode of primary election to be used by political parties to select candidates for elective offices.

Key Takeaways:

  • The PDP National Assembly caucus has asked President Buhari to immediately sign the revised Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law.
  • The National Assembly has made changes to Clause 84 of the bill, which includes options other than direct primary, in line with President Buhari's requests.
  • The Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, have both made the call for the president to sign the bill, citing its critical provisions for the credibility of the 2023 general elections.
  • Some governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are allegedly lobbying the president not to sign the bill, which will meet with great resistance from the PDP and many Nigerians.
  • The PDP caucus has mocked the APC for setting up a 133-member campaign committee for the forthcoming Area Councils Election in FCT, calling it "laughable and a desperate attempt to hold on to power."

Statistics:

  • The bill was transmitted to President Buhari for assent on Monday.
  • The National Assembly made changes to Clause 84 of the bill, which deals with the mode of primary election to be used by political parties to select candidates for elective offices.
  • The APC has set up a 133-member campaign committee for the forthcoming Area Councils Election in FCT.

Sources:

  • "The National Assembly caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sign the revised Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law." - PREMIUM TIMES
  • "The National Assembly has given him what he wanted. He can't now start complaining about it" - Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senate Minority Leader
  • "Some governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress are lobbying the president not to sign the bill" - Ndudi Elumelu, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives

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