Electoral act: 26 CSOs mobilise, declare Tuesday protest day

Acoalition of 26 civil society organisations (CSOs) has declared Tuesday as a ‘National Day of Protest’ to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the electoral act amendment bill into law. They declared this yesterday in Abuja in a joint statement restating the earlier ultimatum issued to the president to sign the bill based on dates announced for the 2023 elections, to avoid creating a constitutional crisis for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The 26 CSOs are Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Yiaga Africa, Partners for Electoral Reform (PER), International Press Centre, Institute for Media and Society, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, The Albino Foundation, Centre for Citizens with Disability, Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ), Labour Civil Society Coalition (LASCO), and Transition Monitoring Group.

They also include the CLEEN Foundation, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Nigeria Network of Non-Governmental Organizations (NNNGO), Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), Enough is Enough, The Electoral Hub and Centre for Liberty.

Others are Take Back Nigeria Movement, International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC), 100 Women Lobby Group, Women in Politics Forum, Raising New Voices, Millennials Active Citizenship Advocacy Africa, and Ready To Lead Africa.

The coalition said the delay by the president to assent to the bill would create legal uncertainties that could threaten the integrity of the off-cycle elections in Ekiti, Osun, and the 2023 general elections.

“We are aware that on the 31st January 2022, the National Assembly transmitted the Electoral Bill 2022 to the President for assent after expeditiously reworking the bill to meet the President’s expectations. Also, aware the bill allows electronic transmission of results, strengthens INEC’s financial independence and empower the commission to reject falsified election results.

“Further aware, the bill, when signed, requires INEC to issue Notice of Election not later than 360 days before the day appointed for an election. Therefore, the President has to give assent to the bill on or before 22nd February 2022 if the dates announced for the 2023 elections are to be maintained,” the statement said.

The coalition urged citizens to call on the president to act on the matter because of its “urgent national importance.”