The African Democratic Congress has condemned the Senate’s decision to reject key provisions of the Electoral Law Amendment Bill, warning that the move will undermine the credibility, transparency and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Punch Online reported that the Senate rejected the proposed amendment to Section 70(3) of the Electoral Amendment Bill, which would have made electronic transmission of election results compulsory.
Explaining the Senate’s position, Senate President Godswill Akpabio noted that Congress did not reject the proposal outright, but rather chose to maintain the current provisions of the Electoral Act.
In a statement released on Thursday and signed by spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the Senate’s actions were a deliberate attempt to undermine democratic guarantees and prepare the ground for election manipulation in future elections.
The ADC particularly condemned the Senate’s refusal to electronically transmit the election results, saying this was critical to safeguarding the will of Nigerian voters.
“Foremost among these is the refusal to electronically transmit the election results, a move that clearly marks another attempt by the APC to undermine the will of the Nigerian people and manipulate future elections,” the party said.
Opposition parties also criticized the Senate’s decision to vote against other reforms, including a clause allowing electronic downloading of voter cards from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s website, shortening the election notification period and reducing the deadline for announcing candidates from 150 to 60 days.
According to the ADC, the rejected provisions were aimed at strengthening election security measures and restoring public confidence in the system.
“The proposed provisions aim to provide necessary safeguards against election fraud and restore voter confidence in the electoral process,” the statement said.
However, the party accused the Senate of deliberately tampering with the law to create opportunities for illegal activities and impose logistical difficulties on INEC.
“What the Senate has done is tantamount to tampering with the law to impose a logistical nightmare on INEC that will expand opportunities for collusion and further reduce the efficiency of future elections,” it added.
The ADC further claimed that the ruling All Progressives Congress used its parliamentary majority to undermine election laws.
“The sum total of this disgraceful act is that the APC used its majority position in the National Assembly to tamper with the law and lay the ground for all kinds of malpractices,” the party said.
The party claimed the APC’s actions were driven by fear of free and fair elections and accused the ruling party of clinging to power through legislative manipulation.
“By rejecting important reforms aimed at improving the conduct of elections, the APC betrayed its lack of confidence and demonstrated its desire to cling to power by any means possible, including tampering with legislation,” the statement said.
ADC called for public resistance and called on Nigerians to hold the ruling party accountable for its actions that undermine democracy and undermine confidence in the electoral system.
“At this critical moment, all Nigerians of goodwill must hold the APC accountable for its actions that undermine democracy and undermine public confidence in our electoral system. As Nigeria’s main opposition party, the ADC unequivocally condemns this retrograde act by the Nigerian Senate and calls on all Nigerians to reject it.”
“We call on the Conference Committee on Electoral Law to reject the Senate’s submission and urge it to pass amendments that are in line with democratic principles and truly reflect the will and aspirations of the Nigerian people,” the statement concluded.
