Buhari’s decision on electoral bill to be known when National Assembly resumes – Presidency
The Presidency has said the decision of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on the Electoral Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill is still unknown.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this when he appeared on Sunday Politics, a current affairs programme on Channels Television which our correspondent monitored from Abuja on Sunday night.
Shehu said, “What I can tell you is that the President is conscious of his responsibilities in this regard. He has been adequately briefed on the pros and the cons of such a signature and the implications for the nation. Is there a decision by Mr President as we speak? I cannot tell you…I don’t know because if the President decides upon completion of all his consultations, usually, he will be sending a privileged communication to the National Assembly. And once that communication is privileged, it is only received by the National Assembly and on the floors of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Speaker or Senate President will read to members.
“My assumption is that when they come back, we probably will be hearing from them.”
Shehu, however, did not state whether the communication would be transmitted before Tuesday when the lawmakers would sit for the last time this year or after their recess in January.
According to the presidential spokesman, the National Assembly might feel unfairly treated if details of the communication were announced by the Presidency.