We’ll return bill to Buhari for assent – Dogara

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has disclosed that the fourth constitution amendment bill would be re-transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, said the Speaker revealed this when he received report of the 2015 elections by the European Union Observer Mission in Nigeria from the Chief Observer, Mr. Santiago Fisas in his office.

He said the constitution alteration bill was forwarded to former president Goodluck Jonathan but was not assented to up till the end of the last Assembly.

Dogara said the bill was still very much alive in the National Assembly, as both chambers have provided savings for such legislation after amending their standing rules, adding that they would not commence the amendment afresh.

“I wish to inform you that some of the recommendations by the mission such as independent candidature has received the support of the National Assembly,” he said.

Dogara told the EU delegation that the National Assembly had made provisions for independent candidates in the bill which was also supported  by overwhelming vote of 2/3 majority of the State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria.

He, however, regretted that, “it is one of the casualties of the non-signing of the bill by the former President. I want to assure you that we will definitely revisit that amendment as it increases the democratic space and more citizens’ participation in the electoral Process.”

Nigeria, according to the Speaker, “is committed to the growing of a robust democracy that not only meets domestic aspirations but, indeed, that which stands the test of international best practices in a world that has been reduced into a global village.”

He commended the EU for supporting the growth of democracy in Nigeria, especially through the committed participation of its Observation Mission in Nigeria’s 2015 General Elections.

In his submission, Mr. Santiago Fisas who was accompanied by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria said the report contained 30 recommendations, aimed at helping Nigeria do better in subsequent elections.

He said the EU was not trying to impose anything on Nigeria but that the recommendations are in line with both Nigerian and International Law.

Among the recommendations is that the process of appointing the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be independent.

They also called for review of voting procedure which separates time of voting and that of accreditation.

He said between one to two million voters were disenfranchised in the 2015 elections as they could not wait to vote after accreditation.