National Assembly Forwards Revised Electoral Bill To Buhari For Assent

The National Assembly has transmitted the revised Electoral Act Amendment Bill to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

Naija News learned that the Clerk of the National Assembly, Olatunde Amos Ojo, forwarded the document to the president’s office in Aso Rock on Monday.

It was also gathered that the revised bill, which was passed by the lawmakers last week, is now with the President as Nigerians await the signing of the electoral bill ahead of the 2023 general elections.

In a statement, an aide to the President on National Assembly (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare, confirmed that the President has received the electoral bill.

Omoworare added that the transmission of the document is in line with section 58 (3) of the constitution.

He said:  “The clerk to the national assembly Mr. Olatunde Amos Ojo has transmitted the authenticated copies of the Electoral Bill 2022 to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari GCFR on 31st January 2022.

“This was done in accordance with the provisions of section 58 (3) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2 LFN 2004.

“Mr. President had withheld assent to the Electoral Bill 2021 transmitted to him on 19th November 2021.

“The electoral bill was thereafter reworked by the national assembly and both the senate and the house of representatives passed same on 25th January 2022.”

Meanwhile, the National Assembly has raised election costs for presidential candidates from ₦1 billion to ₦5 billion.

In the revised electoral bill which will be sent to Buhari for assent, presidential candidates have the chance to spend up to ₦5 billion as election expenses.

Also, governorship candidates can now spend ₦1 billion as election costs against ₦200 million which was the former amount pegged by the National Assembly.

The National Assembly also raised the election costs for Senatorial candidates from ₦40 million to ₦100 million while House of Representatives candidates increased the expenses from ₦20 million to ₦70 million.

For Chairmanship candidates, the maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred by a candidate shall not exceed ₦30 million while councillorship candidates can now spend ₦5 million as election costs.