Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari , has given reasons why he declined assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2018.
In a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, dated December 6, 2018, President Buhari said he declined assent to the bill because he was concerned that passing a new electoral bill a few months to the 2019 general elections could create some uncertainty about the applicable legislation to govern the process.
The Nigeria President said any change to the rules close to the elections, may provide an opportunity for disruption and confusion in respect of which laws govern the electoral process.
President Buhari said that in the best interest of the country and the nation’s democracy, the National Assembly should state in the bill that the electoral act will come into effect and be applicable to elections after the 2019 general elections.
The refusal of the President to assent to the bill has been received with mixed reactions across the political divide.