More pressures are being mounted on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law after being reviewed by the National Assembly in accordance with his observations and request in December 2021. The delay in assenting to the amended bill is generating suspicion that President Buhari is not willing to allow transparency, free and fairness in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria. The fear of the President aiming for the manipulation of the general elections for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) intensified after the announcement of the date of the Presidential Election being scheduled for Saturday, February 18, 2023.
It was argued that the amended Act, when signed, stipulates that the announcement of dates for elections must be done no later than 360 days before the elections. _
Apparently, the rising phobia points to the uncertainty that the elections may be postponed by the INEC if the amended Act is not signed next Tuesday.
Stakeholders of goodwill in the country have, therefore, demanded that “the President has to sign this Act by Tuesday, February 22, 2022, if we are going to use the new Act next year on the announced dates.” Many are perturbed that the President may be deliberately delaying his assent to the amended act for time wasting and to make the INEC rely on the old law in conducting the 2023 general elections.
The amended Act provides for electronic transmission of results; inclusive participation of persons with disability; gives INEC the powers to review election results declared under duress etc.
There is also provision that stipulates that an appointed public servant interested in contesting election must resign one month before the primaries of the party. Many consider this provision unacceptable to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami who wants to run for governor of Kebbi State, and therefore, reluctant to advise the President as appropriate to assent to the bill.
Concerned stakeholders warned that they started a seven-day countdown on Wednesday, and that they are set to make the delay a ‘talking point’ in Nigeria to make the president sign the bill and save Nigerians from electoral fraud in 2023.
The stakeholders noted that fuel scarcity or importation of bad fuel, including the ASUU strike, are critical issues, but they argued: “if we don’t have good elections, we’re in bigger trouble!”