President Muhammadu Buhari has gave reasons why he is insisting that section 84(12)of the amended Electoral Act, 2022.should be further amended.
He gave the explanation on Thursday in a counter-affidavit he filed challenging the suit that was lodged against him by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) .The counter affidavit specifically asked the Federal High Court to dismiss PDP suit .
Buhari said that the contentious section of the Electoral Act, would disenfranchise political appointees and prevent them from engaging in the electoral process in the exercise of their inalienable rights in a participatory democracy
The President filed the counter affidavit through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN).
He said though he expressed his reservation and concerns in his letter to the Senate about the said portion of the amended electoral law, he, did not at any time, ordered the Senate to delete it.
Buhari further told the court that notwithstanding the his reservation with the section 84(12)of the Electoral Act 2022 , he went ahead and assented to the Electoral Bill, in view of the fast approaching general elections.
“The assent of the 1st defendant (Buhari) to the Electoral Bill given on February 25, 2022, was proper, full and unconditional.
“The 1st defendant assented to the Electoral Bill 2022 on February 25 but did not give conditions or directives to the National Assembly in the manner erroneously deposed to by the plaintiff (PDP).
“At no time did the 1st defendant give any directive to the management or leadership of the National Assembly as regards the removal of section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022, from the Act.
“Prior to assenting to the Electoral Bill 2022, the 1st defendant merely expressed his observations and concerns about the constraints of section 84 (12) of the Bill on serving public office holders and political appointees but gave his assent to avoid further delay as time was of the essence.