Senators not comfortable with the decline of anticipated assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari are gathering signatures to override him in a bid to pass the Bill into law.
Reports say immediately after reading the letter from President Buhari, which explained why he decided to withhold his assent, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, called for a closed door session.
It was learned that while Lawan tried to pacify the lawmakers, some were adamant and insisted that the Red Chamber should make recourse to its veto power, as enshrined in the constitution.
The Senate, which went into a closed-door session over the consideration, adjourned Tuesday’s session till today (Wednesday), when a decision over the matter is expected to be made.
By virtue of provisions of Section 58(5) of the 1999 Constitution, where the President withholds his assent on a Bill, it could be passed into law by two/thirds majority of the National Assembly. Section 58(5) reads in part:
”Where the President withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law and the assent of the president shall not be required.
“If the president withholds his assent and it is again taken to both Houses of the National Assembly, two-thirds majority of both Houses must pass the Bill. If two-thirds majority in each House pass the Bill, then that Bill becomes law and the presidents’ Assent i.e. approval is no longer needed or required.”
Speaking with newsmen after Tuesday plenary, Senator representing Rivers East, George Sekibo, dropped the hint that senators were not relenting in retaining direct primaries as the sole option for political parties to pick their candidates. In an interview later on Tuesday evening with Channels Television, he said some senators were considering a veto of the bill.
According to Sekibo, a total of 73 signatures had been compiled to override the president. Senator representing Benue South, Abba Morro, also confirmed the orchestrated plot to override President Buhari.
“The reasons given by the president to withhold assent, to my view and the views of majority of senators, are not enough because all stakeholders have acknowledged the fact that the amended electoral act as it is today contains fantastic provisions that could deepen democracy.
“If we reject the amended electoral bill because of direct primaries, then it will be very unfortunate.
“If it’s because of direct primaries, the president has rejected the will of the people. I can assure you that myself and my colleagues are prepared this time around to override the president,” he said.
Another senator who spoke on condition of anonymity said the lawmakers are not ready to shelve the plot to override President Buhari, despite appeals by Senator Lawan.