President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to re-visit the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018, with a view to re-evaluate and sign the bill.
The president made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday in reaction to the position of 60 presidential candidates and chairmen, known as the G-60 Joint Candidates Forum, on the 2019 general elections.
The G-60 Forum led by Shittu Muhammed, its Chairman, had earlier in the day commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its conduct of the 2019 polls, saying it performed creditably well.
“We hereby unequivocally reaffirm our confidence in INEC for its performance against all odds in the conduct of the 2019 general elections”, Muhammed said on behalf of the forum.
In his reaction, President Buhari, in a statement issued by Garba Shehu, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, applauded the forum for their disposition and acceptance of the election result despite their difference in political orientations.
The president stated that he was in agreement with the forum that INEC encountered some initial challenges, but conducted elections in which the electorate fully participated.
The statement read: “We are encouraged by the patriotism of the Presidential Candidates expressed in clear and matured language.
”We are convinced that, regardless of our different political persuasions, we can work together to improve electoral integrity in Nigeria.
“The Presidency is in agreement with the Joint Forum that despite the temporary setbacks experienced at the beginning, INEC managed to produce an election in which the voice of the ordinary people counted.
”Democracy is founded on the will of the people and INEC did well to ensure this outcome was achieved in the 2019 elections.’’
The statement noted that the “do-or-die” politics syndrome remains a threat to the survival of democracy in the country, adding that “the success of democracy does not only depend on electoral laws, but also on behaviour, character and attitude of politicians.’’
The statement assured the G-60 forum that the president would sign the Electoral Act amendment into law after reviewing its provisions.
You Must logged in to add comments. Login