With the political space tense, Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, accused President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday of being the greatest threat to Nigeria’s democracy due to his alleged refusal to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill within 30 days.

The CSOs made the claim in a statement signed by Ariyo-Dare Atoye, Executive Director, Adopt A Goal Initiative, and endorsed by Jude Feranmi, Convener, Raising New Voices Initiative; Maryam Ahmed, Programme Officer, Center For Liberty; Kenneth Eze, Convener, Speak Out Africa Initiative; Simi Olusola, Executive Director, The Nigerian Alliance; and Obinna Eze Nwagbara, Executive Director, Youth, and Students

According to the statement, the President’s failure to sign the bill has caused uncomfortable tension and unnecessary worry, but his inactivity may not be the final word beyond December 19.

The statement partly reads, “It has come to the point where we must tell President Buhari in unmistaken terms that his failure to sign the bill within the 30 days window has exposed him as the biggest threat to the fourth democratic republic, having failed to perform a similar responsibility four times in his first term.

“President Buhari benefitted significantly from some of the electoral reforms initiated by Yar’Adua and signed by Jonathan; if he fails to sign the amended electoral act, History will record him as a major impediment to electoral credibility and governance.

“This is a low-hanging lifetime opportunity for the President to salvage his terrible electoral credential”.

CSOs have pledged to storm the National Assembly on Monday in order to force the National Assembly to override the President in order to put the Bill into law in the best interests of Nigerians.

“There is a constitutional window opened to the National Assembly to recall the bill and give it the effect of law with a two-thirds number.

“From Monday morning, we will turn to the National Assembly to act in the national interest and pass the bill expeditiously before they embark on the Christmas recess.

“Consequently, the next step is for us as CSOs to take our advocacy to the National Assembly to step in, exhibit courage, recall the bill and ensure they override the President with an accelerated passage before Christmas.”

It further said, “The 9th National Assembly has deferred too much to President Buhari almost to the point of ridicule, so if the President does not respect and reciprocate this gesture, history will be kind to them if they override the President and salvage their own political future.

“This will not be the first time in the last 20 years that the National Assembly will override the President; the 4th legislative session did so and got the NDDC Act passed and operational. The 9th National Assembly has the opportunity of not sharing with the executive the glory that will accompany the new act.”