Electoral Bill: Buhari assents, complains of Section 84(12)

President Muhamadu Buhari has called on the National Assembly to quickly delete Section 84 (12) of the re-worked Electoral Bill as he signed it into law hours ago at Aso Rock.

“No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the Convention or Congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election”, would disenfranchise some eligible Nigerians,” the section reads

According to him, the section subjects serving political office holders to inhibitions and restrictions referred to under sections 40 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“Only constitutional expectation placed on serving political office holders that qualify, by extension as public officers within the context of the constitution is resignation, withdrawal or retirement at least 30 days before the date of the election,” he argued.

“Arising from the foregoing, with particular regards to the benefits of the Bill, industry, time, resources and energy committed in its passage, I hereby assent to the Bill and request the Nationally Assembly to consider immediate amendments that will bring the Bill in tune with constitutionality by way of deleting section 84(12) accordingly.”

Present at the signing were Senate President Ahmed Lawan and some others.