Samson Itodo, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, a prominent civil society organization focused on electoral reforms, has sharply criticized the Nigerian Senate for rejecting key progressive provisions in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. In a post on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday, Itodo described the Senate’s actions as a “betrayal of public trust” and a deliberate effort to undermine credible elections ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to Itodo, the Senate rejected electronic transmission of election results, blocked the option for Nigerians to download electronic voter cards from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) website, and significantly shortened critical timelines in the electoral process.
Specifically, the notice period for elections was reduced from 360 days to 180 days, while the timeline for publishing the list of candidates was cut from 150 days to 60 days. Itodo warned that these compressed timelines could heighten the risk of logistical challenges during elections, potentially compromising the integrity of the process.
“What the Senate passed today is not reform,” Itodo stated in his post. “It’s a betrayal of public trust and a deliberate attempt to weaken all the guardrails for credible elections.”
He contrasted the Senate’s stance with that of the House of Representatives, which he praised for adopting more progressive positions on the bill. Itodo expressed hope that the Conference Committee, tasked with harmonizing the versions from both chambers, would reject the Senate’s amendments and restore the provisions aimed at ensuring votes count in the 2027 elections.
Itodo has been at the forefront of advocating for electoral reforms in Nigeria, emphasizing transparency, technology integration, and extended timelines to allow for better preparation and voter engagement. Itodo’s reaction highlights ongoing concerns among civil society groups about potential setbacks in Nigeria’s democratic processes, especially as the country prepares for its next general elections under the hashtag #NigeriaDecides2027.
The full post reads:
“Today, the Nigerian Senate @SenateNGR rejected electronic transmission of results, blocked the download of electronic voter cards from INEC website, reduce notice of election from 360 days to 180 days, cuts down timeline for publishing list of candidates from 150 days to 60 days.
“These compressed timelines will increase the risk of logistics problems during elections. What the Senate passed today is not reform. It’s a betrayal of public trust and a deliberate attempt to weaken all the guardrails for credible elections.
“The Senate’s position sharply contrasts with the progressive position taken by the House of Reps @HouseNGR We hope the Conference committee will reject the Senate’s position and restore the progressive provisions that will make votes count in 2027.
