The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has said that President Muhammadu Buhari may withhold assent from the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill if it is considered to have proposals based on personal interests.
He said the bill, which the National Assembly transmitted to the Presidency the second time on Monday last week, is now being attended to for legal advice.
Malami made this known while appearing on a television programme on Monday night.
Recall that the President had withheld assent to the first version of the bill last year after consulting Malami and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), among others, on the bill.
When asked if he was satisfied with the amendments, Malami said, “In terms of satisfaction, honestly, it is premature for me to conclude, taking into consideration (that) I can admit to you that the electoral bill was only received in my office this afternoon as I was preparing to come over for this engagement.
“So, I have not taken steps to review the content and context of what has been presented for consideration for the President. So, it is premature and pre-emptive for me at this moment, now to arrive at any conclusion, taking into consideration that I have not gone through the document to understand what it contains and then analyse the same in accordance with the constitution and the prevailing laws.”
When asked if he would advise the President to reject the amended bill if he was not satisfied with the new version, Malami said, “Certainly, if I am not satisfied and if I am of the opinion that it is against the public interest, the national interest; and then against the dictates of democratic process, I would advise accordingly.”
He added, “But then, one thing I can tell you is that we are all interested in leaving behind a legacy of a lasting democracy; a democracy that indeed accommodates the collective interest of the Nigerian state, and eventually advances the national interest, national development and deepens the democratic process.
“So, with these considerations associated with deepening democracy; with the considerations associated with the national and public interest, we will certainly do whatever it takes to move democracy to the next level.”
