President Muhammad Buhari on Tuesday assured that he is set to sign the reviewed electoral act bill any moment from now. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, monitored by National Daily from Lagos, conveyed the President’s readiness to sign the electoral act amendment bill into law, saying that it is just a matter of hours for President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the re-worked Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The Special Adviser said that some political actors are merely taking advantage of the perceived delay to instigate unnecessary mass action in the country.
The Presidency had earlier argued that Buhari still ahs up to March to sign the electoral act amendment bill as provided by the constitution. However, stakeholders in the country argued that not signing the bill on Tuesday will affect the timetable for the 2023 general elections.
Adesina on Tuesday asserted: “He will sign it any moment from now.
“It could be today, it could be tomorrow, it could be anytime, but within the 30 days.
“It could be signed today; it could be signed tomorrow. In a matter of hours, not days. Hours could be 24 hours, it could be 48 hours; not days, not weeks.”
The Special Adviser Adesina noted that it was not necessary for anybody to accuse the President of delaying the signing of the electoral act amendment bill, arguing that the President is still within the 30 days constitutional requirements to sign the bill. He said that pressures would have been on the President if he had exceeded the 30 days requirement.
Adesina, however, stated that the President needed to have thorough assessment of the bill, which is crucial to the country’s electoral process, before signing it into law. He added that the president needs wide and proper consultations before signing the bill.
According to Adesina: “You know before the President will put pen to paper on any legislation, particularly this one that has to do with our electoral fortunes, it has to be looked at and looked at.
“He has to buy opinions from different stakeholders and having been satisfied that the necessary due diligence had been done and he will not be making any error, then he will sign it, and I tell you that Nigerians will get to hear about this bill in hours.”
There was indication that President Buhari has resolved to assent to the bill but may require amendment of the a particular section of the bill by the National Assembly, thereafter.