Presidency Speaks On When Buhari Will Sign Electoral Bill

President Muhammadu Buhari will take a final decision on assenting to the Electoral Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill soon, the Presidency has said.

Naija News reports that presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, made this known on Sunday in an interview on a programme on Channels Television.

Shehu stated that even though the president has not made his decision known on the electoral bill, the Nigerian leader is conscious of his responsibilities.

He argued that President Buhari will consider the interest of Nigerians before signing the bill and has been duly advised on the advantages and disadvantages of his assent to the bill.

The presidential spokesman, therefore, said President Buhari will send a privileged communication to the National Assembly after signing the bill into law.

Shehu refused to confirm if the President will send the communication before Tuesday when the lawmakers would sit for the last time this year or after their recess in January.

He, however, said that Presidency will not want to offend the National Assembly if details of the communication were announced.

Shehu said, “What I can tell you is that the President is conscious of his responsibilities in this regard. He has been adequately briefed on the pros and the cons of such a signature and the implications for the nation.

“Is there a decision by Mr President as we speak? I cannot tell you…I don’t know because if the President decides upon completion of all his consultations, usually, he will be sending a privileged communication to the National Assembly. And once that communication is privileged, it is only received by the National Assembly and on the floors of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Speaker or Senate President will read to members.

“My assumption is that when they come back, we probably will be hearing from them.”