Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Muktar Betara on Thursday said that the House of Representatives is not aware whether President Muhammadu Buhari declined signing the Electoral Act Amendment.
Batera made the observation in a chat with newsmen on Thursday shortly after chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmud Yakub appeared before the House committee on Appropriations.
Asked what transpired at their close door meeting with the INEC chairman, the lawmaker said the INEC Chairman told them that for direct primaries and its funding, only the political parties have such responsibility.
“In our discussions with the INEC Chairman, we wanted to know his requirements for the 2023 elections as well as cost of direct or indirect Primaries.
“On the primaries, when we discussed with him, he specifically told us the role of INEC in direct or indirect primaries which he said is just minimal. He said the responsibility lies with all the political parties. He said party primaries is the role of political parties and not INEC.
For direct primaries, what the INEC Chairman told us is that only the political parties have the responsibility on primaries and the funding of the primaries”.
“We don’t know whether he rejected the bill or rejected the bill”, he said.
Chairman INEC, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu while speaking with newsmen earlier said INEC did not come up with any cost for the conduct of primaries per political parties by direct method.
According to Prof Yakubu, we have had very good discussions with the committee on Appropriation of the National Assembly pursuant to the resolution of the House and what we discussed you will not hear from me. May be, the chairman of the committee will tell you.
On the cost of 2023 elections, the electoral umpire said: “Once the budget is finalized you will hear.
Responding further on whether President Muhammadu Buhari has declined assent on the electoral act amendment, he said: Really? I am hearing it for the first time.
The meeting with the electoral umpire were to know requirements for the 2023 elections as well as cost of direct or indirect Primaries.