It is still morning and the drama unraveling. Smarting from a massive defeat of several members of the National Assembly in the primaries of the major political parties, the House of Representatives began a move to override the President’s veto of an amendment bill to the Electoral Act, which would have restored the rights of statutory delegates to vote at the conventions and congresses of their parties.

The President has kept the amendment bill beyond the 30 days constitutionally allowed by him to act on it. He has neither signed nor communicated to the National Assembly his objection to the bill. In parliamentary language, that is a veto. Some members of the House of Representatives are not happy about this and have therefore, initiated moves to assert their constitutional right to override the President’s veto since the passage of the bill enjoyed their popular support ; it was overwhelmingly and speedily passed by the majority.

The House of Representatives at its plenary last week resolved to file a motion for overriding President Muhammadu Buhari for failing to assent to Clause 84(8) of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which provides for Statutory Delegates. But, the mood in the Senate is yet unknown. It is, however, not likely to be much diverse from the House of Representatives because almost half of its membership of 109 will not be returning to the Senate in the next Assembly.

Stirring the hornet’s nest on the floor of the House of Representatives last week Wednesday was Hon. Ben Igbakpa, Ethiope Constituency of Delta state that came on Point of Order to bring the members attention to the failure of the President to sign the bill more than 30 days after it was sent to him on May 13, 2022. When he raised the Point of Order, the mood of members was as high as a kite.

He had drwan inspiration for his action from the regrets expressed by Speaker Gbajabiamila at plenary a day before (Tuesday) when he said it is unfortunate that the high turnover of members of the National Assembly is a disservice to the nation which is being denied experience that should go into law making.

The member who raised the Point of Order was counseled by the Speaker to bring his intention by way of motion signed by at least one third of members of the House. The member went back to the drawing table and collected signatures to in order to table the motion for discussion. But, on his return date, the Speaker was away on “official duties” and the Deputy Speaker, Honourable was the Chair of the House. After, trying to present his motion, he got another counsel from the Chair, that since it was an action seeking to amend an Act, it has to come by way of another bill.

Hon. Igbakpa, who was not happy by what appears to be a toss round between the Speaker and his Deputy, said “the Honourable Speaker advised me to do what I am doing now”. He however, bulged to the Deputy Speaker’s new advice for his to liaise with the House Business and Rules Committee to represent the amendment bill. The mover of the motion took the turn-down in good faith and promised to do as advised blaming whatever may have happened on miscommunication between the Speaker and the Deputy.

All that is preamble, as the National Assembly needs two thirds of its members to override the President’s veto. The bigger question is: Does the leadership of this National Assembly and indeed its majority of its members have the scruples to go the whole hog of overriding the President’s veto?

Beyond the call to duty by the parliamentarians, there are other factors that may make the intention to override the President to see the light of day. One is the disposition of the Senate President who not only a supporter of President Buhari but once openly professed that any act by the President is good for the nation. Lawan was once quoted as saying any request that comes from Buhari is “good for the nation” and the Senate will take immediate action on them. By extrapolation, any action not sanctioned by the President may not be good for the nation.

Another factor is that majority of members in the two chambers belong to the same political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the President and may not want their decision to override as a vote of no confidence on the President.

But barring all odds, if the National Assembly is able to pull through an override of the President’s veto of the amendment to the Electoral Act, which is like a leap in the dark; it will be another milestone event worthy of celebration that truly Nigeria’s democracy is coming of age.

Only once since the return to democratic rule in 1999 has the National Assembly ever successfully over ruled the President’s veto. By an overwhelming majority, the two chambers of the National Assembly passed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) bill with over two-thirds majority, thus overriding President Olusegun Obasanjo’s veto in year 2000.

There are fears that the intention to override the President’s veto may be enmeshed in controversies and eventually kiss the dust. It is doubtful, going by reputation going by precedence, reputation and acts thus far, if the National Assembly will be able to muzzle enough courage and strength to override the President’s veto. Politically, members of the National Assembly may do all the jaw-jaw but when it comes to taking the hard decision of members casting their vote, it could be a different kettle of fish.