Non-signing of electoral act, insecurity are threats to 2023 polls, says HURIWA

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has asked the National Assembly to override President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto of the Electoral Act, even as it said the failure of the Federal Government to combat insecurity could threaten transition of power in 2023.

It also faulted the position of Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on reasons why the President did not sign the Electoral Act.

Malami was quoted as saying in a radio broadcast that the Act “has an excessive cost implication, is discriminatory, as well as supportive of insecurity. Signing it into law will only initiate a new crisis that will lead to court cases.”

HURIWA, through its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, expressed disappointment, saying the failure of Buhari to curb growing insecurity and his alleged sabotage of the Electoral Act, which would have liberalised leadership recruitment through direct primaries, portend evil against the country.

It alleged persons seeking a third term for Buhari do not want insecurity to end and are undermining the signing of the Act. It said they might also explore Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for the imposition of a state of emergency in the country or any part of it. The section empowers the President to issue the declaration through an official gazette.

It added, however, that a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly must ratify the executive proclamation within two days if the legislators are in session, or 10 days if they are not.