File photo of Buhari, during budget presentation to National Assembly.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday called on the National Assembly to use its constitutional power to override President Muhammadu Buhari on the Electoral Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill.
Spokesman for Nigeria’s major opposition party, Kola Ologbondiyan, stated that Buhari’s veto did not come as a surprise, adding that his commitment to a free and fair 2019 election was “mere lip service”.
As stated by the PDP, it has become clear that the reasons adduced by the president for withholding assent to Bills were “lame excuses”.
“The clerical and drafting arguments put forward by President Muhammadu Buhari could not in any way outweigh the importance of amendments meant to engender free, fair, credible and transparent elections in 2019, Ologbondiyan said.
“The PDP therefore charges the National Assembly to stand with Nigerians in the overall quest for credible elections by immediately overriding President Muhammadu Buhari on the bill.”