Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday spurned reports
suggesting that it has commenced moves to override President Muhammodu
Buhari on the Electoral Act Amendment bill.
Spokesperson of the
House, Hon Abdulrasak Namdas, who spoke with LEADERSHIP last night in a
telephone chat, noted that the president acted within his constitutional
powers.
He added that the lawmakers would examine the reasons adduced by the president before taking any position.
Namdas
explained that the House could not have acted on speculations and media
reports when it has a laid down procedure of receiving communications
from the president.
He said, “The House has an established
procedure for receiving communication from the president. The Speaker
will come before members and read the letter addressed to the House
through him by the president. Until that is done, I cannot speak about
the position of the House. We will await the president’s letter and
listen to his reasons; we cannot act on social media reports.
“So,
we are waiting for the Speaker to read the president’s letter on the
floor of the House. That is when officially we will deem it that the
president has communicated to us”.
Also, a lawmaker from the
North East who spoke to our correspondent noted that it would be
impossible to override the president’s veto because those who are
opposed to his position cannot muster the two-third majority needed.
The
lawmaker who did not want his name in print said most of the lawmakers
seeking re-election from the zone are banking on the goodwill of
President Buhari to win elections, and as such they wouldn’t take
decisions contrary to the president’s interest.
“Where will they
get the number from? Let us assume that they even attempt to override
it, their best will remain an attempt. The reality is that today in the
House of Representatives, there is no way those opposed to the president
will achieve the two-third majority of 240 members. It is impossible,”
he said.
When pointedly asked if Senate President Bukola Saraki can influence two-third majority of the Red Chamber to override the veto, the lawmakers said, “Where will Saraki and his cohorts get the two-thirds majority in the Senate? It is not easy. Just as the anti-Saraki forces couldn’t get the two-third to remove him as Senate president, he is not also likely to get the two-third to veto the bill. And don’t forget that the concurrence of both the Senate and House of Representatives is needed to successfully override the president’s veto,” he stated.
Source:- Leadershipng
Share your thoughts