A coalition of civil society organizations renewed calls for widespread electoral reform in Nigeria on Tuesday, urging comprehensive amendments to the country’s laws in a bid to strengthen its democracy.
The CSOs gathered to discuss key issues such as independent candidacy, the role of independent election observers, and the urgent implementation of electronic transmission of election results.
One of the coalition’s central demands is the removal of partisan politicians currently serving as commissioners and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission. They suggested that political parties should nominate members as electoral commissioners to reduce election rigging and ensure a more transparent process.
The call was made during an interactive conference on electoral reform titled “Setting the Agenda” at Merit House in Abuja. The event, organized by the Civil Society Coalition for Sustainable Development, aimed to promote a citizens’ memorandum for achieving a more credible, transparent, and accountable electoral process. The objective is to foster a democratic culture where every vote counts and serves the interests of all Nigerians, according to Daily Post.
During the conference, Peter Ameh, a former presidential candidate and ex-National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, advocated for conducting all elections on the same day. He argued that such a change would significantly curb electoral malpractice. Ameh referenced Ghana’s Electoral Commission, where elections are completed at the polling unit level with votes cast, recorded, and results declared transparently.
Ameh also highlighted the overburdened nature of Nigeria’s election management body and called for the unbundling of INEC. Drawing from his experience in past elections, he stressed the importance of adopting pragmatic measures to improve the system, including revising the quasi-judicial powers granted to the INEC chairman to review elections and declare seat vacancies. Ameh also pushed for the implementation of robust campaign finance laws and the creation of an Electoral Offenses Commission to hold individuals accountable for misusing public funds to suppress opposition parties.
Hon. Ben A. Etenabene, a member of the House of Representatives, echoed the call for stricter electoral accountability. He emphasized that any elected politician who defects from their party should automatically have their seat declared vacant. Etenabene also proposed the installation of CCTV cameras at polling stations to ensure greater transparency and reduce the potential for election manipulation.
Fred Agbedi, a representative from Bayelsa State, warned against the dangers of accepting financial inducements during elections, urging the electorate to safeguard the integrity of the democratic process. He stressed that all political parties, including the ruling party, must be involved in discussions to develop effective electoral reforms.
Drawing comparisons with the U.S., Agbedi proposed that political parties should play a more direct role in forming electoral commissions, ensuring greater accountability and less manipulation. He also urged Nigerians to demand accountability and warned that accepting bribes undermines the foundations of democracy.
Ene Obi, the former Country Director of ActionAid, expressed frustration with Nigerians’ passive response to government decisions. She cited the removal of the fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu, which led to a dramatic increase in fuel prices, as an example of citizens’ insufficient engagement with critical policy decisions.
Dr. Moses Paul, convener of the Free Nigeria Movement, also weighed in on the ongoing issues. He argued that the real challenges in the country stemmed from individuals in power, such as Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who influence the political system. Paul stressed the need to focus on reforming the system’s structure, as opposed to solely blaming the President.
Other participants, including Dr. Peter Piper, Ibrahim Abdukarim, Christian Chima, Young Piero, Sam Amadi, and Mallam Idris Kalgo, called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s electoral system to address persistent issues and ensure a fairer, more transparent electoral process.
“In Nigeria, even if holy prophets were appointed as INEC Chairman, challenges would persist due to divergent interests and perceptions among citizens. For example, communal or religious affiliations often take precedence over merit, making elections contentious.
“Our laws, including the Electoral Act, are well-crafted, but implementation remains a challenge. Practical solutions, like installing CCTV cameras at polling stations, would ensure transparency by monitoring election activities and exposing irregularities.
“Beyond relying solely on INEC’s portal and the Independent Results Viewing (IReV) system, we should consider creating Election Agent Service Providers—independent entities overseeing the process alongside INEC. This would enhance transparency and reduce manipulation,” Etenabene said.
