Reps chief whip apologises over comments on electoral act
- The Chief Whip of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, has apologised over President plot comments
- Doguwa had last week reportedly said that amendment of the electoral act was a mischievous plan targeted at Buhari and APC
- Doguwa said the report was a misrepresentation of what he intended to say
The Chief Whip of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, has described a comment credited to him over ongoing electoral reforms as ‘misunderstood’.
Premium reports while quoting Daily Trust that Doguwa allegedly said the amendment of the electoral act was a mischievous plan targeted at the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari.
READ ALSO: We'll end herdsmen/farmers' clashes soon - Osinbajo
Legit.ng gathered the Electoral Act was last week amended by the House of Assembly to allow the National Assembly elections come first, followed by that of governors and members of the Houses of Assembly, while the presidential election comes last.
But Doguwa, who walked out of the plenary in protest of the amendment, told Daily Trust in a telephone interview that the house did not have power to set timetable for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He allegedly said the amendment would make elections costlier for government and also put INEC in a difficult operational situation and that it went against the constitution.
“I came to a point where I realised that the house was trying to stage a plot not only against my party, APC, but a plot that is possibly stage managed against the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is my leader and from my zone.”
However, in a statement, according to Premium Times, Doguwa said the report was a misrepresentation of what “he intended to say.”
“The report erroneously reported me to have said that the electoral act as ammended was negatively targeted against President Mohammad Buhari.
“As a leader, and a high ranking member of the House, I have enormous respect for this great institution which I have served for about 25 years now, and therefore could not have acted or spoken in a manner that would derogate, tarnish or undermine its institutional image,” he said.
He said although he was not favourably disposed to some parts of the Amendments passed during the considerations of the report, “it will never let him undermine the House or decisions taken by it.”
PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
He apologised to his colleagues whom he said might be offended by the publication.
“I therefore, wish to in the circumstance apologise to my respected colleagues who were offended by this media mis-represntions, one way or another.”
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that chief whip of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, has alleged that the amendment done by the House to the Electoral Act ahead of the 2019 general elections is a mischievous plan against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari.
EXCLUSIVE: Be patient with President Buhari, Femi Adesina tells Nigerians - on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
