President Muhammadu Buhari has, on Tuesday, sent a letter to the senate, explaining his rejection of the electoral bill 30 days after it was submitted to him for assent.

Buhari rejected the adoption of direct primaries, saying it would lead to an increase in costs of primary elections across the country.

READ ALSO: Signing 2021 Electoral Bill Is Writing Your Name in Gold, CDD Tells Buhari

He said signing the legislation into law would stifle smaller political parties without the resources to conduct direct primaries, further crippling the country’s multiparty system, Daily Sun reports.

However, the rejection of the bill by the president does not mean finality on the topic, as lawmakers, by law, can go ahead to pass it if two-third majority of both the senate and the house of representatives agree to it.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Senate Authorises INEC to Determine e-Transmission of Election Results

They can also decide to modify the bill or step it down entirely. The senate will hold a plenary later on Tuesday.

This is not the first time Buhari would reject an electoral bill. In 2018, he declined assent to an amended electoral bill submitted by the 8th assembly. On that occasion, he declined to comment on the reason for his decision.