The Independent National Electoral Commission has called the attention of the federal government to the continued delay in the assent to the Electoral Act (2010) amendment bill.
INEC said the delay may affect the adoption of the new amendments for the 2023 general elections.
They said though the commission operates based on the existing legal regime, it was important to have the law that would guide the elections in place at least 12 to 18 months before the exercise.
INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has already announced February 23, 2023, as the date for the presidential election, which is about one year from now.
The amendment, prompted by the compelling need to engender transparency, improve the electoral process and boost the credibility of elections, had generated nationwide debate, especially the need for electronic transmission of results and the contentious direct primary made mandatory for political parties.
President Muhammadu Buhari revealed in his letter to the National Assembly that the direct primary clause, inserted by the lawmakers, was the sole reason he vetoed the bill, noting that parties should have options on the mode of direct primary to adopt. “You can’t dictate to people and say you are practicing democracy,” he added.
