Mr Clement Nwankwo, Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and Founding Convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, has sharply criticized the Nigerian Senate’s recently passed Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, describing it as a significant setback to electoral transparency and integrity in the country.
In a post on his verified X handle on Wednesday, following the Senate’s decision, Nwankwo argued that the bill undermines key reforms achieved in previous electoral laws. He highlighted several provisions that he believes erode public trust in the electoral process, including the removal of electronic transmission of results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV), a reduction in INEC’s required notice period for elections from 360 days to 180 days, and limitations on party primaries that favour easily manipulable methods.
“This weakens transparency, strains election logistics, and rolls back hard-won reforms,” Nwankwo stated in his post, adding that ” Nigeria deserves better.”
The amendments come at a time when Nigeria’s electoral system has been under scrutiny for issues related to credibility and efficiency. The electronic transmission of results, introduced in the 2022 Electoral Act, was widely praised for reducing opportunities for manipulation during the 2023 general elections by allowing real-time public access to polling unit results via IReV.
Nwankwo expressed hope that the upcoming joint harmonization committee meeting of the National Assembly (NASS) next week would prioritize the House of Representatives’ version of the bill. He urged the committee to adopt the lower chamber’s proposals to “restore the credibility and public respect” of the legislature.
As a prominent figure in Nigeria’s civil society, Nwankwo has long advocated for electoral reforms through organizations like PLAC and the Situation Room, which monitor elections and push for policy improvements. His comments reflect broader concerns from civil society groups about potential regressions in democratic processes.
The Senate’s passage of the bill has sparked debate among stakeholders, with some lawmakers defending the changes as necessary for streamlining operations, while critics like Nwankwo warn of increased risks of fraud and logistical failures.
The full post reads:
“The @NGRSenate -passed Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill is deeply retrogressive. It removes electronic transmission of results to IReV, cuts INEC’s notice period from 360 to 180 days, and restricts party primaries to easily manipulable options. This weakens transparency, strains election logistics, and rolls back hard-won reforms. Nigeria deserves better. Nigerians expect the NASS joint harmonization Committee meeting next week, to pass @HouseNGR version to restore the credibility and public respect of @nassnigeria
