Senators Fail to Override President Buhari's Veto on Electoral Act Amendment Bill

Strategic Insights -

The plan by senators to override President Muhammadu Buhari's veto on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill has hit a snag, with lawmakers failing to muster the required two-thirds majority to do so. The Senators, who had collected signatures to override the president's decision, were thwarted by governors and other stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who warned them against taking the move.

Governors, who are influential in decision-making at both state and national levels, reached out to lawmakers from their states, cautioning them against overriding the president's veto. The governors, who deployed a "carrot and stick" approach, effectively doused the tension and ensured that the required two-thirds majority was not met. The senators, who had collected over 70 signatures, including those from the APC and opposition PDP, were forced to put their plan on hold after a closed-door session.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Senators failed to collect the required two-thirds majority to override President Buhari's veto on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
  • Governors, who are influential in decision-making, reached out to lawmakers and cautioned them against overriding the president's decision.
  • Governors used a "carrot and stick" approach to douse tension and prevent the required two-thirds majority from being met.
  • The Senators were forced to put their plan on hold after a closed-door session and resolved to consult with the House of Representatives on how to respond to Buhari's decision.
  • The National Assembly will need to revise the bill and remove the contentious provision on direct primaries to get the President's assent.
  • Former Senate President Bukola Saraki urged federal lawmakers to fast-track their decision on the Electoral bill, saying Nigerians could not sit back and allow one contentious clause to throw away all the positives in the bill
  • The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of scuttling the signing of the electoral bill because some key provisions in the draft law will not allow its grand design to rig the 2023 General Elections.

Statistics:

  • Over 70 senators, including those from the APC and opposition PDP, collected signatures to override the president's veto.
  • The Senators failed to collect the required two-thirds majority to override President Buhari's veto, which is 73 votes.
  • The APC has 70 senators, while the PDP has 38, and YPP has 1 senator.
  • The House of Representatives had adjourned plenary till January 18 after passing the 2022 budget.
  • President Buhari withheld his assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill on December 13, 2021, citing economic, security, and legal issues.

Sources:

  • Daily Trust
  • Channels TV
  • National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS)
  • Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
  • AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com)