The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the Senate’s decision to reject key provisions of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, warning that the move threatens the credibility, transparency, and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
The Senate declined a proposed amendment to Clause 70, Subsection 3 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which sought to make the electronic transmission of election results mandatory.
Explaining the decision, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the chamber did not completely throw out the proposal but opted to retain the existing provision in the current Electoral Act.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the Senate’s action as a deliberate attempt to weaken democratic safeguards and prepare the ground for electoral manipulation ahead of future elections.
The party particularly faulted the rejection of electronic transmission of results, which it said is critical to protecting the will of Nigerian voters.
“Foremost amongst these is the rejection of electronic transmission of election results, a move that clearly signals yet another attempt by the APC to undermine the will of the Nigerian people and manipulate future elections,” the ADC stated.
The opposition party also criticised the Senate for voting against other proposed reforms, including provisions that would have allowed electronic downloading of voter cards from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) website, reduced the notice period for elections, and shortened the timeline for the publication of candidates from 150 days to 60 days.
According to the ADC, the rejected provisions were aimed at strengthening electoral safeguards and restoring public confidence in the system.
“Proposed provisions were intended to provide the necessary safeguards against electoral abuse and to restore voter confidence in the electoral process,” the statement read.
The party further accused the Senate of deliberately tampering with the law to create room for malpractice and impose logistical challenges on INEC.
“What the Senate has done amounts to tampering with the laws to expand opportunities for rigging and foist logistical nightmares on INEC that will make future elections even less efficient,” it added.
The ADC also alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) exploited its majority in the National Assembly to weaken electoral laws.
“The net sum of this disgraceful action is that the APC has exploited its majority status in the National Assembly to tamper with the law and lay the ground for all manner of malpractice,” the party said.
It further claimed that the APC’s actions were driven by fear of free and fair elections, accusing the ruling party of clinging to power through legislative manipulation.
“By rejecting critical reforms meant to improve the conduct of elections, the APC has betrayed its lack of confidence and has shown its desire to cling to power by all means, including by legislative tampering,” the statement noted.
Calling for public resistance, the ADC urged Nigerians to hold the ruling party accountable for actions it said weaken democracy and erode trust in the electoral system.
“At this critical moment, all well-meaning Nigerians must hold the APC accountable for actions that continue to weaken democracy and erode public trust in our electoral system. As Nigeria’s leading opposition party, the ADC unequivocally condemns this retrogressive act of the Nigerian Senate and calls on all Nigerians to reject it.
“We call on the Conference Committee on the Electoral Act to reject the Senate’s submission and urge the Committee to pass amendments that align with democratic principles that truly reflect the will and aspirations of the Nigerian people,” the statement concluded.
Elijah Adeyemi
