President Muhammadu Buhari has finally signed the amended electoral bill into law.
Mr Buhari affixed his signature to the controversial legislation on Friday morning at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa Abuja.
“Arising from the foregoing, with particular regards to the benefits of the bill, industry, time, resources and energy committed in its passage, I hereby assent to the bill and request the Nationally Assembly to consider immediate amendments that will bring the bill in tune with constitutionality by way of deleting section 84(12) accordingly,” the president said.
He previously rejected the bill late last year over the direct mode of primary federal lawmakers approved as the only means for political parties to choose candidates for elective positions.
The national assembly members edited the controversial section to allow indirect and concensus modes of primary and retransmitted the bill to the Nigerian leader who has now signed it.
Present at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa for the ceremony were the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan.
Also present were Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, among others.
