Buhari writes Reps, requests amendment of Electoral Act

President Muhammadu Buhari sent a letter to the House of Representatives yesterday, requesting that the Electoral Act, to which he recently consented, be amended.

Specifically, the President is requesting that section 84 (12) of the Act, which prescribes resignation of appointees of government seeking to run for political office 30 days before the convention of any political party.

The sections states:  “No political appointee at any level shall be voting delegate or be voted for at the Convention or Congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”

While assenting to the bill on February 25, 2022, President Buhari noted that the section was inconsistent with a relevant section of the constitution.

“It is imperative to note that the only constitutional expectation placed on serving political office holders that qualify by extension as public officers within the context of the constitution is resignation.