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YIAGA Commends President Buhari over Electoral Bill Assent

The Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth, and Advancement (YIAGA) Africa has commended President Mohammadu Buhari for signing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill and describing it as a watershed in the nation’s democracy.

This was communicated by the group’s Executive Director, Samson Itodo, during his appearance on Channels Television.

“I am happy, and I am so proud. And this has renewed our faith in democracy. Congratulations to Nigerians. This is [a] victory for democracy,” he said during the show.

Itodo stressed that the development shows that Nigerians can achieve more together. He added that the new law would transform Nigeria’s “electoral process if implemented to the letter”.

The group’s leader, who commended the president for signing the bill a year before the coming general elections, noted that he had met the “demands of the citizens and stakeholders”.  The YIAGA Africa boss said the bill’s signing is coming about a year before the Nigerians’ poll.

“I’m glad that the president upheld public interest over and above every other interest. I want to congratulate and thank him for that,” Itodo added, just as he thanked the National Assembly for their responsiveness since the process began.

He stressed that although there are issues with some clauses in the bill, NASS had prioritized the issue and devoted resources to making sure the Electoral Act Amendment Bill came into force.

“We urge the National Assembly. The same way they responded on this issue that they extend [the] same to other pro-people legislation. To the Nigerian people, to the media, what we recorded today, this victory for democracy, wouldn’t have been possible without the role that the media played, without the role that citizens played,” he said.

YIAGA further urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying, “without further delay issue notice of election early next week and announce new dates for the election because the President assented to this after February 22nd”.

Recall that since the senate reworked the bill and transmitted it to the President for assent, the president took some time to make consideration before signing on Friday

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