There are now indications that the Senate may override President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to assent to the harmonized Electoral Act, which proposes an amendment to the sequence of general elections in the country.
Buhari had withheld assent to the Bill, which had successfully passed through the legislative mills of both houses of the National Assembly.
To override the president’s veto on the bill, both legislative chambers need two-thirds of their votes in favour of the position.
The version of the bill as passed by the National Assembly mandates the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the presidential election first, before other elections. But the Presidency has objected to the schedule.
Already, if the hints are anything to rely on, the lawmakers are believed to have commenced the process of garnering support for their plan.
Before the letter from the President was read by Senate President Bukola Saraki, the Senate had moved into an executive session, which lasted about 30 minutes.
Emerging from that session, Saraki reported that the Senate deliberated on the workings of the upper chamber, the National Assembly and CBN.
But sources said the matter of the vetoed bill came up, but was not exhaustively discussed. For example, Saraki was said to have told his colleagues that the president had rejected the bill, adding that the Senate would need to take another look at the bill. Also, the senators resolved to get further clarifications from the Legal Department of the National Assembly before taking any further actions.
In the meantime, about 65 Senators have reportedly signed up to join in the battle to override the president’s veto.
Remarkably, 43 Senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are said to be in support of the plan to override the veto while so far, 22 Senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) support the idea.
“We are seeking like nine members to come on board, so that we can get the required 73 senators needed to override the president’s veto.”