The Senate on Tuesday went into a closed session following the rejection of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill by President Muhammdu Buhari.
Buhari had refused to sign the bill, citing insecurity, direct primaries, cost, and other implications on the country’s electoral system and political parties.
Apart from mandatory direct primaries, the bill also makes a provision for electronic transmission of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and increases the limit for election spending by candidates.
The president had in a letter asked the National Assembly to remove the clause that has to do with direct primaries from the bill and return it to him for assent.
However, the lawmakers will be able to pass the bill with a two-thirds majority.
A source who was privy to the content of the letter told PUNCH that the president refused assent because political parties had their various constitutions that stipulated mode of primaries that should be adopted.
According to the source, the president argued that it would be unconstitutional to force parties to adopt direct primaries, adding that small parties will be marginalised.
The bill was transmitted to Buhari on November 19, 2021, after both chambers of the National Assembly passed shortly before a tripartite meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership and the governors.
