Malami Reacts To Rejection Of Buhari’s Request To Amend Electoral Act

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has reacted to the rejection of President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to amend the recently signed Electoral Act, 2022.

Recall that the President while signing the amended Electoral Act on February 25 had asked the legislature to remove Section 84(12) because it disenfranchises political appointees.

He said the Section which bars political appointees from participating in party conventions and congresses for the election of party officials and electoral candidates must be deleted and sent back for another assent.

But the National Assembly denied the request of President Buhari, stating that the removal of the section was not in the interest of democracy.

In a chat with State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, Malami said the executive has three available options to exploit on the matter.

The AGF said the federal government would ask the National Assembly to reconsider amend the act, approach the court or accept the law as it was.

Malami said the government had not taken any position on the matter, adding that consultations are ongoing regarding the issue.

He, however, said the government is reviewing the matter and will come up with a position at the appropriate time if the need for further action is required.

He said: “The government has a lot of options to consider and exploit. One of the options is to demand the National Assembly to reconsider the section of the law. The other option is to look at it within the context and spirit of the law and see what it can do. And all these portions are on the table.

“No position has been conclusively taken on the part of the government. The government is reviewing; the government is looking and the government will come up with a position at the appropriate time if the need for further action is required. If there is no further need for such an action, the government will take it as presented.

“But no position has been taken by the government as of today with particular regard to what needs to be done on the part of the executive arising from the provisions of the Electoral Act in respect to which issues of conflict with the constitution were raised.”