National Assembly Passes Controversial Electoral Act Amendment Bill; CSOs Raise Alarm Over Key Clauses.
The Nigerian Senate, after a tense and protracted plenary session today, passed the much-debated Electoral Act Amendment Bill. This legislative development, which follows months of public hearings and intense negotiations, is meant to provide the legal framework for the 2027 general elections and beyond. However, instead of calming political nerves, the bill's passage has ignited a fresh firestorm of controversy over several of its key provisions.
At the heart of the dispute are clauses related to the electronic transmission of election results and new limits on campaign financing. The final version of the bill grants the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the authority to transmit results electronically. Critically, however, it subjects this authority to a caveat: INEC must secure confirmation from the National Communications Commission (NCC) on the adequacy of national network coverage. Critics argue this clause could severely compromise the electoral body's independence and potentially disenfranchise voters in areas deemed to have poor connectivity.
The reaction from civil society and opposition parties has been swift and overwhelmingly critical. A leading coalition of election monitoring groups immediately issued a statement condemning the bill, labelling the controversial clauses as "a deliberate step backwards for electoral transparency in Nigeria." They contend that the NCC's involvement introduces an unnecessary political hurdle that could be exploited to manipulate results. The coalition has announced its intention to launch a campaign to persuade the President to withhold his assent.
Defending their position, proponents in the Senate argued that the measures are practical safeguards to ensure that no part of the country is left behind due to technological deficits. The Senate President described the legislation as a "significant improvement" on the current act and called for constructive engagement. With the bill now on its way to the presidential villa, all eyes are on the President, whose decision to sign it into law, reject it, or return it for amendment will set the political tone for the crucial years leading up to the next election cycle.
I'm Adedayo Obadina
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