TECHNOCRAT MEDIA, Abuja
Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives has promised Nigerians to reintroduce the electoral act amendment bill on Wednesday.
Mr Gbajabiamila said this on the floor of the house on Tuesday in his welcome address after their recess.
TECHNOCRAT MEDIA in a report on December 21 reported how President Buhari declined assent on the bill, citing the high cost of conducting direct primaries, the security challenge of monitoring the election, violation of citizens’ rights, and marginalization of small political parties.
The president added that the provisions for direct primaries violate the principle of democracy.
The speaker of the green chamber said: “The house will reintroduce the amendment tomorrow and we will work quickly to address the mitigating concern, pass the bill and send it to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent,”
Speaking on the concerns raised over errors in the bill, Gbajabiamila said he had set up a technical committee to look into the matter, adding that the report would be made available to the house in a few days.
He said the “drafting and other technical errors in the bill, is a matter of concern as it appears the version sent to the president differs from what is circulating in the public domain”.
“However, in December of last year, I appointed a technical team to look into the issue. I expect to have their report within the next day or two so that we can proceed to the next stage,” the speaker said.
