Why lawmakers should back citizens’ priorities on electoral amendment - Yiaga Africa

The Yiaga Africa has urged federal lawmakers to support Nigerians listed top priorities as it considered the electoral amendment, ahead of the 2023 General Elections.

The Yiaga Africa’s Director of Programmes, Cynthia Mbamalu, made the call during a meeting with a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and the Chair, House of Representatives, Women in Parliament Committee, Hon. Taiwo Oluga.

She said that as Nigerians anticipate the enactment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Other Electoral Matters Act (2021), it is imperative that the content of the electoral law reflects the wishes of the people while guaranteeing the sanctity of the ballot.

According to her, these recommendations are mainly feedback from citizen engagements via various communication platforms as part of efforts to ensure the drive for electoral reform is citizen-driven.

She said that the outlined priority areas are consistent with the tenets of good governance and democratic consolidation and provide Nigerian citizens, especially young people, women and people living with disabilities, with the needed confidence in trusting the nation’s electoral outcome.

“Adopting these priorities will elevate Nigeria’s standing globally amongst other nations using the instrumentality of the law to build their electoral democracy and achieve stability and peace,” she said.