Senator Solomon Adeola(APC, Lagos West), chairman of Senate Committee on Local Content has kicked against those urging the National Assembly to override the President’s veto on the Electoral (Amendment)Bill 2018 saying those making the calls does not have the national interest of Nigeria and the safety and sanctity of the 2019 election at heart.
He made this known in a statement sent to our correspondence , Senator Adeola said he will not support any such move on the floor of the Senate as it is counterproductive at this late hour to the crucial 2019 General Election beginning from February next year stressing that if the previous Electoral Act that is being amended can produce the democratic landmark of an opposition party winning a free and fair election from a ruling party in power for 16 years in 2015 under the then ruling party, then it can be relied on even now to deliver free and fair election.
“As a senator and a Nigerian, I cannot be part of any move to override the president veto on the electoral bill. The president clearly stated his reasons for the veto and I think they are cogent enough to be accepted by all in the National interest. And good enough the President is not totally foreclosing the need to amend the Act as he clearly stated that such process can take place after the 2019 Elections in the 9th National Assembly” he stated.
Senator Adeola warned that any move to champion the override of the Presidential veto would amount to wasting precious legislative time and overheating the polity in place of other important legislative agenda adding that such an exercise will be in futility as the Parliament will not have the required constitutional two third to override the president.
“At this point I will stand with all those desirous of peaceful and transparent election as promised by President Mohammadu Buhari. With the assurances by INEC that it is ready to conduct a free and fair election with or without the amendment of the electoral law only those with ulterior motives will want to override the president less than three months to the General Elections” he stated.
