INEC Backs Constitutional Amendment, Urges Buhari To Reflect Wishes Of Nigerians

By Izuchukwu Okosi

Sequel to President Muhammed Buhari’s letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking clarification from the election arbitars on some knotty issues in the Electoral Act amendment bill transmitted to him by the National Assembly, INEC has duly responded to the enquiries by the country’s number one citizen.

President Buhari, who received the bill on November 19, has until December 19 to sign it or withhold his assent and communicate to the National Assembly his feelings and comments about the bill.

The President however has 30 days to sign the bill but should the National Assembly not be in agreement of his amendment or reservation, the Senate and the House of Representatives can recall the bill and pass it.

In a letter dated November 29, 2021, signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the president requested INEC chairman and the office of the Vice President, Attorney-General of the Federation, the Minister of Finance and the Inspector General of Police to provide considered views on the bill by Friday, December 3, 2021.

Officials of the commission informed Political correspondents that the INEC chairman has sent his expected response to the president via the appropriate channel.

It was reliably gathered that the commission in its reply unequivocally mandated the president to adhere strictly by the constitution, especially that the views of the federal lawmakers seem to have represented the opinions of the majority of opinions of Nigerians.

The commission also highlighted landmark proposals in the bill that would improve the quality of elections and deepen democracy in the country.

INEC also stated in its response that accelerated assent to the bill by Mr President will fastrack the preparation of major elections like the FCT municipal area council election, Ekiti and Osun governorship elections and the 2023 general elections.

Izuchukwu Okosi

Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc. In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio. He worked there for 13 years until October 2017. Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch. He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations. Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line. Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.