BY OUR CORRESPONDENT
Due to delay by President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022, over 26 civil society groups said they will begin protest on Tuesday 22nd February, 2022.
The civil society organisations resolved to embark on a protest on Tuesday if the President fails to assent to the bill in two days.
The coalition urged its partners to converge on the Unity Fountain, Abuja, for the demonstration.
The coalition include Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Yiaga Africa, Partners for Electoral Reform, International Press Centre, Institute for Media and Society, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, The Albino Foundation, Centre for Citizens with Disability, Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, Labour Civil Society Coalition, Transition Monitoring Group, CLEEN Foundation and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre.
Others are Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, Nigeria Network of Non-Governmental Organisations, Inclusive Friends Association, Enough is Enough, The Electoral Hub, Centre for Liberty, Take Back Nigeria Movement, International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre, 100 Women Lobby Group, Women in Politics Forum, Raising New Voices, Millennials Active Citizenship Advocacy Africa and Ready To Lead Africa.
On January 31 2022, the National Assembly transmitted the reworked bill to the President for assent.
Buhari consequently forwarded it to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), for legal advice.
Malami had hinted that he might advise the President to withhold assent if he (Malami) found the reworked bill to contain proposals hinged on personal interests.
The CSOs in a statement on Saturday by the Media Officer of Yiaga Africa, Moshood Isah, after an emergency meeting, urged citizens across the nation to “call on President Muhammadu Buhari to act on this matter of urgent national importance.”
The President has not shown any significant sign of signing the reworked bill 20 days after it was transmitted to him by the National Assembly.
By law, the President is expected to respond to the National Assembly’s proposal not more than 30 days after receiving it.