February 08, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has received the revised Electoral Act Amendment Bill from the presidency for legal advice.
Malami made this known on Monday while appearing on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Channels Television, monitored by THEWILL.
The National Assembly, had last week Monday, transmitted the revised Electoral Bill to the president for assent.
President Buhari had withheld his assent to the bill in November last year, citing the cost of conducting direct primary elections, security challenges, and possible manipulation of electoral processes by political actors as part of the reasons for his decision.
Both the senate and the House of Representatives had reworked the electoral bill for the second time by concurring on direct, indirect, and consensus primary modes of nominating candidates by political parties for elections.
Speaking on the re-amended Electoral Bill, Malami said he received the bill from the presidency for advise on Monday.
When asked if he was satisfied with the amendments made to the bill by the National Assembly, 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 with Channels TV.
“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.
“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.”
When asked to express to Nigerians, his commitment to deepening democracy in Nigeria, the minister stated that his office is a constitutional one, which is fundamentally governed by public interest. “And when we are talking of the public interest, I am talking of the interest of 200 million Nigerians. I will be guided at all times by my oath of office associated with public interest, exclusive of the sentiments or the feelings,” he added.
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