Ensure speedy passage of electoral act amendment bill, CSOs tell lawmakers

A coalition of civil society organisations has asked the national assembly to ensure the speedy passage of the electoral act amendment bill ahead of the 2021 democracy day celebration.

Representatives from the 14 civil society groups had staged a protest in front of the national assembly on Tuesday, demanding urgent passage of the bill.

In a statement, the group lamented the seeming lack of progress in the national assembly on the electoral act amendment bill, describing it as “worrisome”.

“The urgent need for reforming the electoral legal framework is founded on the broad-based consensus by Nigerian citizens and electoral stakeholders on the need for a more credible and improved electoral process — a process that will encourage active citizens’ participation and guarantee their rights in electing leaders and representatives that will provide good governance by addressing gaps in the current electoral legal framework,” the statement reads.

“The senate president at the time promised Nigerians a new electoral act by March 2021. That timeline has come and gone!

“We are now in the second quarter of 2021 and the electoral act amendment bill is yet to be presented for third and final reading in both chambers of the National Assembly. This process is required before the Bill can be transmitted to the president for his assent.”

In considering the bill, the group asked the national assembly to undertake an in-depth consideration of the citizens’ “priority issues” which includes “strengthening the financial and operational independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), protecting the voting rights of the blind and visually impaired voters, and promoting the inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disability in politics”.

Some other priority areas highlighted by the group include “reducing the cost of nomination of candidates to promote a level playing field for all contestants; legitimising the use of technology in the electoral process with particular emphasis on the biometric voter register; biometric accreditation of voters; electronic voting, electronic collation and transmission of results”.

“The NASS must recognise that passing the electoral bill in good time will engender expeditious action by the executive,” the group stated.

“The speedy enactment of the bill will give INEC the legal clarity to adequately plan and efficiently conduct future elections, particularly the Anambra governorship election scheduled for 6 November 2021.

“Consequently, we join our voices with millions of Nigerians to call on the national assembly to speed up the process for the passage of the electoral act amendment bill.

“In the same vein, we call on the president to speedily assent to the bill and deliver a brand-new electoral act 2021 to Nigerians ahead of the 2021 democracy day celebration on 12 June 2021.”

The statement was jointly signed by the Centre for Citizens with Disability (CCD), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), CLEEN Foundation, Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), Institute for Media and Society (IMS), International Press Centre (IPC), and Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI).

Other co-signatories were the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Nigeria Women’s Trust Fund (NWTF), Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ), The Albino Foundation (TAF), and YIAGA Africa

The amendment bill was initially introduced by the eighth national assembly under the leadership of Bukola Saraki, but President Muhammadu Buhari declined assent three consecutive times.

On April 13, Kabiru Gaya, chairman of the senate committee on INEC, gave he assurance that the bill will be passed by the national assembly in the second quarter of 2021.