Seventy-three senators are set to support a motion to override the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)’s veto on the Electoral Act (Ammendment) Bill.
A Senator of the Peoples Democratic Party, George Sekibo, made this known in an interview with Channels Television.
Sekibo explained that there are plans to override Buhari’s veto after the end of the closed-door session of the senate on Tuesday.
The lawmaker was quoted as saying that “a total of 73 signatures have been compiled” to override the veto.
By law, the National Assembly can override the president’s veto ofn a bill through a two-third majority vote.
The signatires said to have been gathered are over two-third majority needed to override the president’s veto as there are 109 senators in the Senate.
With the 73 signatures gathered so far, it means 70 per cent of the lawmakers in the Upper Chamber want the bill passed without the president’s assent.
Buhari had informed the National Assembly of hs decision to withhold his assent on the bill, signing the bill into law would have serious adverse legal, financial, economic, and security consequences on the country, particularly in view of Nigeria’s peculiarities.
In his letter to the Senate, the president also said the direct primary arrangement could worsen the insecurity situation across the country if approved.
According to him, it could cause confusion in the various political parties.
“Direct primaries are also subject or susceptible to manipulation or malpractices as most parties cannot boast of reliable and verified Membership Register or valid means of identification which therefore means non-members can be recruited to vote by wealthy contestants to influence the outcome.
“Rival parties can also conspire and mobilize people to vote against a good or popular candidate in a party during its primaries just to pave way for their own candidates. Whereas where voting is done by accredited delegates during indirect primaries, the above irregularities are not possible,” Buhari letter read in part.
The Senate adjourned its session till tomorrow.
Source: PUNCH
