The House of Representatives
refused to debate the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law
for the fourth time the Electoral Act, 2010 Amendment Bill.
Before the floor could degenerate
into a rowdy session on Tuesday, following the reading of the President’s
letter conveying his rejection of the Bill, Speaker Yakubu Dogara said in line
with House rules, the letter would not be considered on the day it was read but
slated for another legislative day.
President Buhari, in the letter
dated 6th December, 2018 said he declined assent to the Bill as a result of the
likely confusion the new law would create for the process of the 2019 general
election.
While pointing out some other
errors in the document, the President included a provison if he must sign the
bill into law that the clause that the law becomes operational after the 2019
election be inserted.
As the Speaker concluded reading
the letter, Ali Madaki, (PDP, Kano) raised a point order saying there was an urgent need for the House to
debate the President’s communication because of its importance to the future of
the country.
“Mr. Speaker, you have just read
a very important letter. What we want is free, fair and credible election. Mr.
President refusing to assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill shows clearly
what he wants to do.
“The whole world is watching.
Everybody is watching…,” he said before being shut down by a counter point of
order from the House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila.
Gbajabiamila said no House rule
supports Madaki’s suggestion that the matter be debated immediately because of
it’s importance.
“We have never, by precedence; by
custom and tradition, we have never debated a letter, which is by way of
information.
“If there is the need to debate
the president’s letter, we will table on the order paper for debate. Several
letters have been written by several presidents before.
“It never happened. If you want
to debate the letter, place it on the order paper. We are fully ready to debate
it,” Gbajabiamila said.
At this point, the Speaker ruled
and stepped down the matter for another legislative day.
He said, no matter how urgent,
House rules dictate that such matters are scheduled for another legislative day
for consideration.
“We have a provision in our rules
that guides this kind of communication and I will advise that we follow the
rules.
“So, I think this matter should
be laid to rest,” he said.
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