President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday explained why he withheld assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which he has returned to the National Assembly.
In a letter read on the floor of the House, he said Section 87 of the Bill which require political parties to conduct only direct primaries is an infringement on the rights of the political parties to make their own choices.
significant increase in the cost of conducting elections.
He also said that the process of direct primaries is open to manipulation and could increase the level of corruption in the country as those willing to contest elections may deep their hand into public funds to mobilise even non-members to vote for them.
He said opposition parties could also sponsor people to vote against popular candidates in an election to pave way for them.
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