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| Olisa Agbakoba SAN |
Human Rights Lawyer and former
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN, has expressed concern about the 2019 general elections and therefore called
on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law the Electoral Act (Amendment)
Bill 2018.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN, has expressed concern about the 2019 general elections and therefore called
on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law the Electoral Act (Amendment)
Bill 2018.
In a letter addressed to
President Buhari on Wednesday, Agbakoba said that
the nation’s general election was just three months away and the unsigned Bill
should serve as legal regime giving credibility to the 2019 election.
President Buhari on Wednesday, Agbakoba said that
the nation’s general election was just three months away and the unsigned Bill
should serve as legal regime giving credibility to the 2019 election.
Agbakoba wrote: “We are concerned that the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018 has
not been signed into law 3 months into the general election in spite of the fact
that it has long been transmitted by the National Assembly.
not been signed into law 3 months into the general election in spite of the fact
that it has long been transmitted by the National Assembly.
“The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018 is the legal regime for
the 2019 election. It is therefore important that every person is familiar with
its provisions.”
the 2019 election. It is therefore important that every person is familiar with
its provisions.”
Agbakoba
continued in his letter to Buhari that “If
you recall, the late signing of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2015
created so much confusion and resulted in widespread electoral malpractices. If
you also recall, the late signing resulted in conflicting decisions in the
courts, especially on the use of card readers.
continued in his letter to Buhari that “If
you recall, the late signing of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2015
created so much confusion and resulted in widespread electoral malpractices. If
you also recall, the late signing resulted in conflicting decisions in the
courts, especially on the use of card readers.
He also
reminded Mr. President that, “The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill
2018 was passed by the National Assembly to address all the challenges created
by the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2015. It is therefore important that you
sign into law, the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018.
reminded Mr. President that, “The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill
2018 was passed by the National Assembly to address all the challenges created
by the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2015. It is therefore important that you
sign into law, the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018.
“This will enable INEC, political parties and the courts discharge
their responsibilities effectively.”
their responsibilities effectively.”
