President Muhammadu Buhari has finally assented to the long-awaited Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2022 into law, after weeks of uncertainty on the fate of the new legal framework for Nigeria’s electoral system.
The ceremony was witnessed by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare, tabled the document for signing, LEADERSHIP disclosed.
President Buhari urged the National Assembly to give speedy attention to further amendments suggested.
The Electoral Amendment Bill of 2022 is an amendment to the 2010 Electoral Act and the bill is supposed to help Nigeria improve its electoral process from the previous ones.
President Buhari had since 2015, declined to sign the electoral bill for a number of times with varied excuses until today.
With this action by the President, the Act will ensure; Early release of election funds to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), results can be transmitted electronically, political neutrality for INEC officials, empowers INEC with the right to review election results declared under duress, it will allow voters to be electronically accredited, inclusion for persons with disability, early conduct of party primaries and submission of candidates’ list, early commencement of campaigns and many other benefits for the country’s political space.
