Electoral Bill : Senator Adeola Kicks Against Overriding President's Veto

            •Senator Adeola

Godwin Akomah, Lagos

The All Progressives Congress(APC) Senator,  Solomon Adeola (Lagos West), has kicked against people urging the National Assembly to override the President’s veto on the Electoral (Amendment Bill 2018), saying those making the calls neither have the national interest of Nigeria at heart  nor the safety and sanctity  of the 2019 election.

Senator Adeola said he would not support any such move on the floor of the Senate as it was counterproductive and late in the day to the crucial 2019 General Election, which begins on February next year.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, made this known on Sunday in a statement by Chief Kayode Odunaro, Senator Adeola's Special Adviser on Media, while reacting to the call by some opposition elements for the National Assembly to override the President’s veto on the electoral bill.

 He said if the previous Electoral Act being amended today could produce the democratic landmark for the then  opposition party(APC) winning a free and fair election from a ruling party(PDP) at the time in 2015, then same Electoral Act should be trusted to deliver free and fair election in 2019.

“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 9^th National Assembly,” he stated.

He 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.

The Lagos West Senator added that such an exercise would be in futility as the Parliament won't 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 concluded.