What Buhari Will Do Before Signing Electoral Bill – Malami

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), says President Muhammadu Buhari will do right by Nigerians before assenting to the Electoral Amendment Bill.

Speaking during an appearance on a programme on Channels Television on Sunday, Malami said Buhari will put the public interest first before signing the bill into law.

The minister added that the president will sign the bill based on justice, public interest and the economic interest of the nation.

Speaking further, Malami denied reports that he was lobbied by Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to advise the President against assenting to the bill.

He said, ”I am not going to be preemptive of the action of the president on the Electoral Amendment Bill, but one thing I am sure of is that whatever that has to do with the nation, the president will factor the public interest.

”The interest of justice and the nation at large would be considered before any action is taken. It is too premature for me to jump to a conclusion as to the way the mind of the president will work as far as an assent to a bill that has not been processed is concerned.

”I am not in a position to say that but one thing I can tell you is that whatever the president will do will be based on justice and in the interest of the public and the economic interest of the nation.”

Naija News recalls that the National Assembly had passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill and forwarded it to President Buhari for assent.

The Senate and House of Representatives had earlier passed different versions of the bill, and a conference committee was set up to harmonise both bills.

The Upper chamber had constituted a seven-man conference committee to meet with members of the lower chamber Conference Committee and harmonize the differences in the Senate and House versions of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

The approval followed an amendment to Clause 52(3) of the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North) during the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).