Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila says the National Assembly injected the direct primaries clause into the Electoral Act Amendment Bill to ensure that people participate in elections.
Gbajabiamila, who was not certain on whether or not the lawmakers would override President Muhammadu’s Buhari veto of the bill on account of the direct primaries clause, however assured citizens that the National Assembly will revisit the Electoral Act amended bill and ensure that an amended electoral is in place for future polls.
He explained that if the lawmakers muster the two-thirds majority to override President Buhari’s veto, they would do so after their recess or in the alternative remove the direct primaries clause, and pass the bill into law.
The Speakers said this during the commissioning of some projects including the Obele Mini Stadium, Dosunmu Road, Adedoyin Road, Ojikutu, Ishola Road by Randle, Rasaq Balogun Mini Stadium and the Razaq Balogun Road, Adeniran Ogunsanya in Surulere, Lagos.
Gbajabiamila spoke as torrents of reactions trailed his comment, and the way the National Assembly is handling the issue with some eminent Nigerians and groups asking the legislators to cut short their recess to tackle the issue. He added that Buhari refused to sign the bill based on advice but insisted that the direct primaries clause was meant to ensure Nigerians participated in the electoral process.
