Clement Nwankwo, the convener of the Civil Society Situation Room, has warned that the current form of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill could damage the legitimacy of future elections and asked Nigerians to keep speaking out against its features.
After the Senate passed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026, Nwankwo made the decision on Thursday while speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show.
He claims that the upper house’s version does not represent the views of the majority of senators and that it may provide significant difficulties for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“I believe that people ought to speak up more. I am aware that a protest was organized last week by the Situation Room. “I think this will go on,” Nwankwo remarked.
He praised the media, civil society organizations, and organized labor for maintaining public interest in the issue.
“I think the media, citizens, and labor unions have been doing a great job. He continued, “Your analysis and comments on these issues are so very important, even in your program, and it is important that this continues.”
Nwankwo said that procedural control, not a true majority decision, decided the Senate vote’s outcome.
“In terms of voting, what I see that has been passed is really the opinions of those who have the authority to hit the gavel and decide whether a yes is a yes or a no is a no,” he stated.
He asserted that a number of senators disapproved of the decision-making process.
Nwankwo remarked, “I know that many senators themselves are very aggrieved by the way the gavel has been hit on this matter.”
The head of the civil society organization asked Nigerians to support the House of Representatives’ version of the measure, which he claimed better represented stakeholder input and public consultations.
“I believe that the version that the House of Representatives passed, which is much more in line with the consultations that the National Assembly has had with citizens, should be retained,” he stated.
Nwankwo said that the Senate’s proposed modifications, especially the rejection of electronic results transmission and the modification of election schedules, could cause INEC to face significant logistical challenges.
However, the majority of senators do not agree with what the National Assembly, and especially the Senate, has done thus far. “I’ve been informed that the current situation will lead to electoral chaos,” he stated.
“In terms of INEC’s logistics preparations, these timetables that the Senate has tampered with will not stand. What has happened is that the Senate has released fresh timetables as its position, which will cause election instability.
The law was approved by the Senate on Wednesday following its third reading; however, a suggested modification to Clause 60, Subsection 3, which would have required the electronic transmission of election results, was rejected.
Ahead of the 2027 elections, the media and other stakeholders have criticized the move, arguing that electronic broadcasting is essential to guaranteeing free, fair, and legitimate elections.
