2023: Presidency Speaks on Buhari Signing Amended Electoral Act

The Presidency has reacted to viral reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

Various reports flooded the media space on Saturday, claiming that the President had already signed the act into law.

The reports stated that the bill was electronically transmitted to him on Friday, while the President was on a trip abroad.

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However, officials within the Presidency have labeled the report as false, arguing that such an important bill could not have been assented to in secret.

Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, who returned from Abu Dhabi with the President, said the report was not known to him.

“it is news to me too,” Adamu said.

Also, Hon Umar El-Yakub, a Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, House of Representatives, said the could not be true, saying;

“He (President Buhari) couldn’t have signed it yesterday because he was out of the country and he couldn’t have signed already because he’s just entering the country.

“I also cannot tell you that he will still not sign it or will not sign it. He’s the President. But if it will be signed later, we will all know.”

Unless the amended electoral act is signed into law, statutory delegates across the country would be prevented from participating in the primary elections of their political parties.

Statutory delegates include National Working Committee members, state party chairmen and secretaries, local government chairmen, their deputies, councillors and party chairmen in the 774 local government areas.

Others are the President, Vice President, National Assembly members, governors, their deputies, etc.