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Following the rejection of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill by the Presidency, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said the lawmakers will decide upon resumption.
The president, General Muhammadu Buhari in a letter sent to the National Assembly on the bill said the rejection is due to legal, financial and security reasons.
Gbajabiamila, who introduced the direct primaries clause, in his end of the year’s speech on Wednesday said the House is concerned on serving in interest of the people and will make its decision when its resumes from its Christmas and New Year holidays.
He said: “As it is now, that bill has not received presidential assent, and it falls to parliament to decide the best way forward.
“When we return in the new year, we will resume our efforts to reform the electoral system in our country. And we will do it together. That is what the Nigerian people expect of us, and we will do our duty for God and country.
“Whichever way it pans out, we must not throw out the baby with the bathwater and must deliver a credible and enduring electoral system to Nigerians. Every law is a living document and as long as it has breath, it must survive.”
Meanwhile, the Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta) bidded that the bill can be amended and represented to Buhari instead of taking much time on it.
He argued that the House cannot afford to wait till January to reconsider the bill.
He said, “I am begging this House that we can suspend our rules, and immediately look at that talk about direct primaries. We can amend it, we still have enough time today. We can amend that clause and return it to Mr President before we adjourn for recess,” Mr Elumelu said.
In contrast, Gbajabiamila said there is no need to be urgent as regard the bill.
