President Muhammadu Buhari has withheld his assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021.

In a letter to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, Buhari explains reasons he withholds assent to the bill.

The President pointed out the high cost of conducting direct primaries.

He also cited heightened insecurity as another reason, saying that it would be too risky to monitor direct primary elections, which may result in violation of people’s rights.

According to the President, small political parties that lack capacity and structure would be marginally denied which he said, he has taken his time to study the bill and wasn’t in the interest of the country.

Buhari said he had received informed advice from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Government, and had also carefully reviewed the Bill in light of the current realities prevalent in the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the circumstances.

The president said that it would be better to allow each political party to determine its mode of selecting candidates for election.