Jonathan signs Electoral Bill into law

The new electoral law will now provide the INEC with a comprehensive legal framework while the fund will facilitate the compilation of the voters’ register preparatory for the 2011 elections.  “I am delighted to announce that the amount due today was released as soon as the supplementary budget was signed by the President,” Finance Minister […]

The new electoral law will now provide the INEC with a comprehensive legal framework while the fund will facilitate the compilation of the voters’ register preparatory for the 2011 elections.

 “I am delighted to announce that the amount due today was released as soon as the supplementary budget was signed by the President,” Finance Minister Olusegun Aganga said yesterday while briefing newsmen at the State House shortly after the signing  of the Electoral Act and  the Supplementary Budget.

Earlier, INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega  warned that uncertainty over the legal framework for the polls and funding problems were delaying its efforts to overhaul the voter register and the electoral time table.

While singing the Act, Jonathan said the law contains fundamental changes aimed at improving the conduct of elections in our country but raised concern with some of the sections of the Act.

“The Act we have just signed today introduces staggered elections in Section 25, the mood and manner of conducting party primaries and respect for party autonomy in Section 87 and among others. Although serious concerns have been raised regarding some of the sections and their capacity to constitute our inspiration for expanding our democratic space and driven by the believe that the promise of those process has greater potential and options to broaden and advance our match to democratic freedom than undermine,” he said.

Jonathan also noted that  he got the amended bill three days ago against claim by the National Assembly that  it passed and forwarded it to the President earlier.

“Three days ago, I received three clean copies of the amended electoral bill which contained fundamental changes aimed at improving elections conducts in our country. Let me on behalf of the citizens congratulate the National Assembly and other stakeholders for this initiative,” Jonathan said.

He said his assent was a clear evidence to those who may be tempted to doubt his commitment to electoral reforms in the country that he was determined to “to preserve the sovereignty by guaranteeing the sanctity of the ballots.”

Some of the changes in the amended act include giving INEC more time to finalise the voters’ register and bring the electoral act in line with a constitutional amendment passed by parliament last month, which would bring polls forward to January from April. There is still debate over whether Jonathan would also approve the constitutional amendment.

INEC said it had not yet received a signed copy of the amended electoral act, but has said it would be able to release a timetable for the polls once it did so.

“INEC now has gotten all it needs to do its job,” Aganga  said.