Electoral Law: APC Defends Buhari
The APC caucus defended President Buhari's decision on the electoral law, saying it was in the best interest of the nation. This was disclosed yesterday ahead of the commencement of debate on the president’s letter rejecting the bill.
Addressing journalists at the Assembly Complex yesterday, House leader and chairman of the APC caucus, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said Buhari was right to have withheld his assent to the bill. He said: "Punctuation can change the meaning of a provision of the law. The National Assembly should perfect the document, send it back; the president will sign it. "
The members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives threatened to stop any attempt by their opposition colleagues to override President Muhammadu Buhari's veto on the bill. However, "If they (opposition lawmakers) are able to muster two-thirds and push it forward, there is nothing we can do. But as a party, we are not going to be part of it. And we have more than the numbers to stop that.
Gbajabiamila submitted that: "Part of the issues in contention regarding the bill is the mandatory use of card readers, which Gbajabiamila said will disenfranchise many Nigerians. According to him, "We have seen instances where the card readers have failed. "What Mr. President has done is to protect everybody in Nigeria. Millions could be disenfranchised and we don't want that."
Meanwhile, A ranking member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) told journalists the House would commence live debate on the president’s letter on Thursday, stating that the leadership wants Nigerians to see their representatives debate it. “At least from the debate tomorrow, we will know who wants free and fair elections; and who is really interested in a progressive Nigeria.
Addressing journalists at the Assembly Complex yesterday, House leader and chairman of the APC caucus, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said Buhari was right to have withheld his assent to the bill. He said: "Punctuation can change the meaning of a provision of the law. The National Assembly should perfect the document, send it back; the president will sign it. "
The members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives threatened to stop any attempt by their opposition colleagues to override President Muhammadu Buhari's veto on the bill. However, "If they (opposition lawmakers) are able to muster two-thirds and push it forward, there is nothing we can do. But as a party, we are not going to be part of it. And we have more than the numbers to stop that.
Gbajabiamila submitted that: "Part of the issues in contention regarding the bill is the mandatory use of card readers, which Gbajabiamila said will disenfranchise many Nigerians. According to him, "We have seen instances where the card readers have failed. "What Mr. President has done is to protect everybody in Nigeria. Millions could be disenfranchised and we don't want that."
Meanwhile, A ranking member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) told journalists the House would commence live debate on the president’s letter on Thursday, stating that the leadership wants Nigerians to see their representatives debate it. “At least from the debate tomorrow, we will know who wants free and fair elections; and who is really interested in a progressive Nigeria.
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