PDP Reacts To Buhari’s Rejection Of Electoral Act Amendment

The Peoples Democratic Party PDP has reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to assent to the National Assembly’s amendment of the Electoral Act.

Buhari had rejected the proposed amendments to Nigeria’s electoral act in a letter addressed to the leadership of the two chambers in the National Assembly.

The president stated among other reasons that the amendments infringed on the rights of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.

The amendment proposed by the Federal Lawmakers was aimed at altering the sequence of the 2019 election with National Assembly polls, coming first, followed by governorship and state House of Assembly, and Presidential as last contrary to INEC’s time table for the 2019 general election.

In a statement on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP said it was not surprised by the development.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not surprised that President Muhammadu Buhari withheld his assent to the legislation by the national assembly, reordering the sequence of general elections in the country, particularly given the tendencies he has continued to display as a politician.

“In the light of this development, the PDP, and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians, now eagerly await the final decision of the National Assembly on this amendment,” the statement read.

The main opposition PDP said it is not bothered about the 2019 polls as the Buhari-led APC, has been rejected by Nigerians.

“As a party, we are not afraid of the 2019 general elections because we know that Nigerians have already rejected President Buhari and his dysfunctional All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Against this backdrop, the PDP assures to provide all the members of our great party a level playing ground to choose a Presidential candidate in a National Convention that promises to be open, free, fair, credible and transparent.

“We know that with the support of Nigerians, any candidate that emerges on our platform ahead of 2019 will clinically defeat President Buhari at the polls and lead our nation back to the path of progress, national cohesion and a vibrant economy.”

Meanwhile the Senate on Tuesday also reacted to the development.

Spokesman of Nigerian Senate, Senator Sabi Abdullahi said that members of the Senate were yet to deliberate on the letter rejecting the amendment to the Electoral Act.

“If I’m speaking on behalf of the senate and the senate has not discussed an issue, is it fair for me to speak on that? “Yes the letter has been read and definitely this is not the first time letters coming from Mr. President would be read.

“It’s just the same normal communication from Mr. President and all communication from Mr. President will definitely go through the same legislative processes. Which means we have received it now, it’s for us to look at it,” Abdullahi said.