Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has stated that he is ignorant of any danger to overturn President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision on the electoral bill.
President Buhari has previously refused to sign the electoral bill because it included direct primaries for political parties. He claimed that it, among other things, “violates the spirit of democracy.”
Gbajabiamila, who paid a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential residence in Abuja on Friday night, reacted to reports that senators were gathering signatures to overturn Buhari’s decision while speaking to state house reporters.
The speaker, although claiming ignorance of the plan, stated that the President’s refusal to grant assent to the electoral bill will be the first item on the agenda when lawmakers reconvene in January 2022.
According to Gbajabiamila,
“I’m not aware of any such threats to override the president’s decision; at least not in my chambers. We’re on a break right now. So, the collection of signatures is not something that is done when everybody’s scattered.
“I made it abundantly clear at our last sitting that we will look at the president’s veto and his reasons when we come back on. It’s not something we’re going to do on a knee jerk.
“When we come back from our recess — there’s still ample time — we will decide one way or the other. We will do what is right for the Nigerian people.
“I made it very clear that we’re not going to throw away the baby with the bathwater. The electoral law is what a credible electoral process needs and laws are what are required at this time. Nigerians want it and Nigerians will get it.
“By the time we come back, at least as far as the house and I’m sure the senate as well is concerned, it will be the first thing on our agenda — the very week we come back from recess.”
Source; NaijaOnPoint.com
