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Nigeria President's Request to Amend Poll Reform Bill Tossed Out

President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law, new election guidelines that will allow votes cast on election day to be electronically collated, ending years of controversy.

However, the president asked the National Assembly to expunge Clause 84(12) of the Act. He made the request shortly after signing the legislation into law but the court stopped the legislature from going ahead with the amendment. The Senate has rejected the bill that seeks to amend the Electoral Act.

The president declined to sign the bill five times. In December 2021, the president rejected the bill that was sent to him on November 19, 2021, citing his disagreement with the provision of only direct mode of primaries in the bill.

Analysts have blamed the manual collation of results as one of the factors responsible for widespread vote rigging, which is also linked to increasing voter apathy in the country. Many individuals and civic groups who have called for electoral reforms, has said the law will ease electoral processes and promote fairness and credibility in future elections.

InFocus

Timothy Obiezu/VOA

Protesters from various civil society groups hold placards in Abuja demanding president Buhari to sign the electoral bill in Abuja On Tuesday, February 22, 2022.

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