The unofficial word out there is that the President would abandon the lawmakers if he contested first. But if his election was the last, he would dance to their tunes till the very end. Knowing how bills are typically driven by personal interests in this part of the world, it's hard not to think the lawmakers' minds are working this way, and even harder not to think Buhari will never sign!


Again, for the third time, President Muhammadu Buhari refused to sign the amended electoral bill into law on Monday.

According to his Senior Special Assistant on National assembly matters, Ita Enang, the latest refusal to sign the bill is due to some drafting issues that remain unaddressed, among other irregularities.

The President’s decision may signal another tug of war between the Executive and Legislature when the National assembly resumes from recess. However, a close look at the “old” act and the proposed “new” reveals that the amended version falls into three categories: THE GOOD, THE FILLERS and THE SUSPECT.

Here are the highlights of only the good and the suspect, as the fillers will add nothing to the vexed issue.

THE GOOD

There is an introduction of subsection (5) to Section 8 (containing four subsections in the old) of the act, which addresses the appointment of secretaries and other staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The proposed amendment seeks to penalise any INEC official who knowingly refuses to disclose his political affiliation before being employed by the commission. The penalty is a fine of N5million, an imprisonment of at least five years or both.

INFERENCE: To enhance the non-partisanship status of the commission.

There is Section 38 in the old, which covers the failure of nomination by a party and mandates the commission to postpone the election dates for this reason. The amended version includes a new subsection (2) which makes postponement of election unnecessary once there is at least one valid nomination by a political party.

INTERFERENCE: This saves time and prevents the electoral processes from dragging unnecessarily.

We also have Section 44, which stipulates that INEC must ensure the ballot papers contain the symbols of the political parties. The amended version inserts of new subsections 3, 4, 5 which, in a nutshell, state that political parties must be invited to inspect their identities and show whether they approve or disapprove of their of how they are represented on the electoral materials after two days of invitation. And any party that fails to honour the invitation shall be deemed to have agreed with symbols of its party as presented.

INFERENCE: To forestall the usual litigation after elections where parties claim their parties’ logos, symbols or names are omitted, or misstated.

There is Section 49, which addresses the issues of ballot paper, confirmation of voters’ names. The amended version seeks the inclusion of Subsections 1 and 2, which recommend the use of card reader and other technological devices in elections.

INFERENCE: Simply to forestall irregularities and inconsistencies that often mark and mar our electoral results.

There is Aection 53, which addresses the question of over-voting and stipulates that the results of a polling unit where the number of votes cast exceeds that of registered voters should be declared null and void. The proposed amendment states that the results should be cancelled when the number of votes cast exceeds that of ACCREDITED voters.

INFERENCE: This reflects the current practice in Nigeria when accreditation precedes voting.

THE SUSPECT

Section 63(4) of the “old” electoral act addresses the issue of counting of votes and forms. This subsection says the presiding officer should count and announce the result at the polling units. The amended version to this subsection strikes out COUNT and simply states that the presiding officer should announce the result.

INFERENCE: This makes the process liable to manipulation.

Section 91 addresses the limitations on election expenses. The following is the list of maximum limit on election expenses that can be incurred by candidates, according to the old and the proposed:

Presidential election N1billion (Old)- N5billion (New)

Governorship election M200m (Old)- N1bn (New)

Senatorial Seat N40m (Old) -100m (New)

Federal House of Representatives N20m (Old) - N70m (New)

State Assembly N10m (Old) - N30m (New)

Chairmanship election N10m - N30m

Councillorship N1m (Old) - N5m (New)

Even 91(9) that prohibits any individual or entity from donating more than N1million has been amended to N10million.

INFERENCE: Is this a ploy to make our political space an exclusive preserve of the money-bags? Or to make the anomaly of vote buying a permanent feature of our elections?

And the most vexed and suspect is Section 25, which addresses the days of election. The proposed version tinkers with the sequence of elections. The elections will now be from the national assembly to the state assembly, then governorship and presidential, and not the other way round.

INFERENCE: The unofficial word out there is that the President would abandon the lawmakers if he contested first. But if his election was the last, he would dance to their tunes till the very end. Knowing how bills are typically driven by personal interests in this part of the world, it's hard not to think the lawmakers' minds are working this way, and even harder not to think Buhari will never sign!


Post credit

http://saharareporters.com/2018/09/05/old-vs-new-—-whats-electoral-act-amendment-bill-buhari-has-thrice-refused-sign

Good read

Thank you.
Do not sign that bill mr president. It s a trap

you never mention the section that validates the use of card readers

Do you want us to go into this election knowing so well that the law does not recognize the use of card reader?

Buhari is not as useless as that otuoke buffoon. He cannot be railroaded to sign what is not good for the people.

Even his VP being a legal luminary will check and triple check everything before signing.

I would like to believe that the issue of non signing is coming from the desk of the VP as buhari and him work hand in glove and anything that has to do with legal matters, buhari would give him full freedom to review and advice.

PMB the wise President

NigerDeltan:
you never mention the section that validates the use of card readers

Do you want us to go into this election knowing so well that the law does not recognize the use of card reader?

The elections already recognize the use of card readers.

That section is not exclusive to itself. All the other mentioned parts are all together with that.

If that part about card readers was alone then Buhari would have signed a long time ago. However, the senators think themselves wise and want to insert other things that would promote our democracy as a useless one as anyone would be able to buy himself into power rather than being duely elected into power in a true democracy.

Buhari is right for rejecting it and I support the continued rejection of it until they stop putting self first

Buterflyle0:


The elections already recognize the use of card readers.

That section is not exclusive to itself. All the other mentioned parts are all together with that.

If that part about card readers was alone then Buhari would have signed a long time ago. However, the senators think themselves wise and want to insert other things that would promote our democracy as a useless one as anyone would be able to buy himself into power rather than being duely elected into power in a true democracy.

Buhari is right for rejecting it and I support the continued rejection of it until they stop putting self first

what do you called the exchange of N10,000 tradermoni with a voters card serial number by our pastor osibanjo

NigerDeltan:


what do you called the exchange of N10,000 tradermoni with a voters card serial number by our pastor osibanjo

There is no exchange of any 10,000 tradermoni with any PVC information.

A lot of you simply enjoy gossip rather than facts.

Bank of Industry which is behind the tradermoni social investment program have said categorically that nobody collects anyone's data on a form because all their agents are given smart mobile devices for data collection.

They have also said that PVC information is not asked for but only BVN and that even the BVN is not required for the tradermoni levels of 10,000.

Stop reading ipob and PDP fake news.

You are free to use google to confirm my post

NigerDeltan:


what do you called the exchange of N10,000 tradermoni with a voters card serial number by our pastor osibanjo

Factual reading makes you better informed while jobless gossip shows your foolishness.

https://theeagleonline.com.ng/geep-tradermoni-designed-to-benefit-all-other-members-of-nigerian-trader-groups-boi/


https://www.businessdayonline.com/life-arts/enterpreneur/article/transforming-micro-businesses-boi-managed-trader-moni/


https://nigerianfact.com/trader-moni/amp/

Am certain that Buhari didn't read through this amendment.
The lifeless man won't even understand what it's saying.

feddis:
Am certain that Buhari didn't read through this amendment.
The lifeless man won't even understand what it's saying.

He didn't read yet he rejected. Your brain must be paining you

Amendment of section 49 with new subsections (1) and (2)

This provision enshrines the use of the smart card reader and other technological devices in elections.
Under the proposed section 49(1 a person must present himself with his voter’s card to a Presiding officer for accreditation at the polling unit where his name is registered.

Section 52 (2) - Conduct of polls and e-voting
In 2015, this provision was amended to give INEC the discretion to determine the procedure for voting. Now, it seeks to further amend the provision to mandate the Commission to conduct elections by electronic voting or any other method of voting as it may determine from time to time. The proposed amendment slightly differs from extant provisions as the Commission shall only declare the result of an election null and void if the votes cast in the polling unit exceeds the number of accredited voters

This reflects the current practice in elections where accreditation occurs before voting.

New subsections (4) The amendment to section 63(4) provides for the presiding officer to announce the result at the polling unit.


Insertion of a new section “(65A)” after section 65 of the Principal Act

This amendment seeks to mandate digital storage and archiving of election results by INEC at its national headquarters.
It mandates the Commission to compile, maintain and update a National Electronic Register of Election Results as a separate database.
The National Electronic Register will contain the information of results relating to polling units in every election conducted.
Furthermore, it allows any person or political party obtain a certified true copy of an election result that is stored in the National Electronic
Register in a State, Local Government, Area Council, Ward or polling unit.
This could be printed or stored in an electronic format after paying the fees prescribed by the Commission.

New 67 A after section 67 of the Principal Act “Verification and Confirmation of Results”

This is a new insertion that mandates the Collation or Returning Officer to collate and announce the result of an election after verifying and confirming that the number of accredited voters stated on the collated result corresponds with the number of accredited votes recorded and
transmitted from the polling unit. It further specifies the procedure for confirming the number of accredited voters in the event a collated result is not correct, as well as the procedure for resolving disputes regarding results from the polling unit.
The provision goes on to prescribe a 5 years imprisonment penalty without option of a fine for a Returning Officer or Collation Officer who collates or announces false results.

Insertion of a new section “(76A)”after section 76 of the Principal Act Mandates the Commission to record details of electoral materials such as the quantities, serial numbers, particulars of result sheets and other sensitive materials used to conduct elections. Failure to do so shall cause the election to be invalid. Also, presiding officers who deliberately announce an election result without adhering to this procedure will be liable to imprisonment of at least one year without an option of fine.

It is clear gaytiku thinks the bill will legalize homosexuality that is why he us urging the immediate signing to law.

The national assembly should just override the Buffalo and sign the bill into law.

Buterflyle0:


There is no exchange of any 10,000 tradermoni with any PVC information.

A lot of you simply enjoy gossip rather than facts.

Bank of Industry which is behind the tradermoni social investment program have said categorically that nobody collects anyone's data on a form because all their agents are given smart mobile devices for data collection.

They have also said that PVC information is not asked for but only BVN and that even the BVN is not required for the tradermoni levels of 10,000.

Stop reading ipob and PDP fake news.

You are free to use google to confirm my post

I registered for this tradermoni in Kwara, and I was never asked about any PVC number, no form was given to us to fill. They only ask of your name and phone number then take picture of you at your shop.

I was surprised when I heard people accusing if PVC number, I was even thinking if I registered for the wrong one.
Nigerians believes in gossip than reality

phemmyutd:


I registered for this tradermoni in Kwara, and I was never asked about any PVC number, no form was given to us to fill. They only ask of your name and phone number then take picture of you at your shop.

I was surprised when I heard people accusing if PVC number, I was even thinking if I registered for the wrong one.
Nigerians believes in gossip than reality

Don't mind the propagandists. They went and fabricated a fake form so they can use it to discredit the laudable social investment scheme by the VP without knowing that Bank of industry already debunked their nonsense a long time ago

How does the brain pain people literally please?

Perhaps you're also getting lifeless like your Buhari

Buterflyle0:


He didn't read yet he rejected. Your brain must be paining you

If you are insinuating that Buhari goes through the VP for some decisions then you are a joke.
Why was their decision on the new DSS DG not mutual?
WHy has all his appointees being from the core North?

Don't be pathetic you lifeless Buhari E-Rat

Buterflyle0:


Only a brain dead person like you would read where it says something was rejected and still claim it was not read or understood prior to rejection without taking into consideration that the VP is a legal Juggernaut and is only proper that the President would have given him the proposed act to also review.

Buterflyle0:


There is no exchange of any 10,000 tradermoni with any PVC information.

A lot of you simply enjoy gossip rather than facts.

Bank of Industry which is behind the tradermoni social investment program have said categorically that nobody collects anyone's data on a form because all their agents are given smart mobile devices for data collection.

They have also said that PVC information is not asked for but only BVN and that even the BVN is not required for the tradermoni levels of 10,000.

Stop reading ipob and PDP fake news.

You are free to use google to confirm my post

next time argue with facts

NigerDeltan:


next time argue with facts

Despite all the links I gave you and the open confession of a tradermoni beneficiary here your Atikulooted brain still presented the same forged and fake form I mentioned.

See breeze as e dey carry your brain go for yonder.