Buhari knew Senate will reject his request on Electoral Act – Shehu Sani

The former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Sheu Sani, said on Wednesday he was not surprised the Senate rejected President Buhari’s request for amendment of the contentious section 84 (12) in Electoral Act.

President Buhari had a few days ago written the National Assembly to amend the section which required political office holders to resign their appointments at least three months before their parties’ primaries or conventions if they are contesting in the elections.

The upper legislative chamber rejected the President’s request at Wednesday’s plenary.

After the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, led the debate for the second reading of the bill, the lawmakers voted “No” when it was put to vote by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

Sani, who reacted to the development on his Twitter handle, said the President was fully aware that his request would not be granted by the National Assembly.

He said the Senate action was a clear manifestation of deception evident in the country’s polity, stressing Nigerians should not take it as something serious.

Sani wrote: “If you think that the President is not aware that the Senate will throw out the amendment of the electoral act, then you don’t know the art of political deception. The political appointees are now on their own.”

Lawan tells Nigerians to channel grievances on Electoral Act to their representatives

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has urged any Nigerian who is not happy with amendments of sections of the Electoral Act, to channel their grievances to their representatives in the National Assembly.

Lawan who spoke in Abuja on Monday at the inauguration of the reconstituted Public Complaints Commission by the National Assembly, said Nigerians “who feel strongly about some sections in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill currently before by the National Assembly, should stop attacking the presiding officers,” but rather reach out to the representatives to register their displeasure.

The Senate President noted that presiding officers of the National Assembly have come under heavy criticisms over reports that the panel, against the popular demands of stakeholders during the public hearings, had introduced a section prohibiting electronic transmission of election results.

He said the presiding officers were not responsible for the amendments being proposed in the Electoral Act.

“The National Assembly is embarking on the amendment of the Electoral Act. Probably by next week or within the next two weeks.

“It’s very important that those who feel very strongly about any amendment that they think should be effected in the electoral act, should contact or talk to their members of House of Representatives as well as distinguished Senators.

“I want to state categorically clear here that presiding officers are not the ones to determine what is coming or what is not.”