By|| Goodluck E. Adubazi || Abuja
Tension mounted at the entrance of Nigeria’s National Assembly on Monday as civil society groups under the banner of The Situation Room Nigeria staged a protest ahead of Tuesday’s crucial harmonization meeting on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Led by the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, the demonstrators gathered at the National Assembly complex on Democracy Avenue, Abuja, demanding that lawmakers retain key electoral reforms in the final version of the bill.
The protest comes barely 24 hours before the joint conference committee of the National Assembly is scheduled to sit on February 17 to reconcile differences between the Senate and House of Representatives versions of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Addressing a large crowd of protesters, Mamedu said Nigerians expect “nothing short of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results” from polling units.
According to him, the version of the amendment bill passed by the Senate represents a “substantially diluted and retrogressive departure” from the progressive reforms earlier agreed upon after extensive consultations with stakeholders.
“Rather than strengthening Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Senate’s amendment weakens critical safeguards necessary for transparency, credibility, and public trust,” Mamedu declared.
Civil society organizations expressed disappointment that the Senate version allegedly undermines provisions that would enhance transparency in the electoral process.
They argued that the House of Representatives’ version of the bill more accurately reflects the aspirations of Nigerians and the outcome of stakeholder engagements.
The protesters submitted a formal letter to the joint conference committee outlining three major demands:
Retention of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units to the central collation system, as adopted in the House of Representatives’ version of the bill.
Preservation of the 360-day notice period for elections, as provided in the 2022 Electoral Act.
Ensuring that the final amended Electoral Act reflects the progressive consensus reached through consultations and strengthens, rather than weakens, Nigeria’s democratic process.
Mamedu urged members of the conference committee to demonstrate statesmanship and act in the overall interest of Nigerians.
“The credibility of future elections and public confidence in Nigerian democracy depend significantly on the decisions taken at this critical moment,” he said.
The harmonization committee’s decision on Tuesday is expected to shape the legal framework for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, making it one of the most closely watched legislative processes in recent times.
