Calls for comprehensive electoral reform gained momentum on Tuesday as a coalition of civil society organisations presented proposals to improve Nigeria’s electoral laws and strengthen democratic processes.
During an interactive conference on electoral reform titled Setting the Agenda at Merit House, Abuja, the CSOs discussed independent candidacy, the role of independent observers, and the immediate implementation of electronic transmission of election results.
The event, organised by the Civil Society Coalition for Sustainable Development, aimed to create a citizens’ memorandum advocating a more credible, transparent, and accountable electoral system.
One key proposal was the removal of partisan politicians serving as commissioners and officials in the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Instead, the coalition recommended that political parties nominate electoral commissioners to curb election rigging and enhance accountability.
Former presidential candidate and ex-National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Peter Ameh, advocated conducting all elections on the same day to reduce malpractice.
“By addressing Sections 1, 132, 105, and 64 of the Constitution, we can explore the feasibility of holding all elections on the same day. This will significantly reduce opportunities for rigging,” Ameh said.
Ameh also suggested Nigeria adopt Ghana’s Electoral Commission model, where voting, recording, and result declaration occur transparently at polling units. He called for unbundling INEC to address its operational challenges, strengthening campaign finance laws, and establishing an Electoral Offenses Commission as recommended by the Justice Uwais panel.
“Opposition parties often suffer because ruling parties misuse public funds to gain undue advantages. Elections must be fair and equitable,” Ameh emphasised.
Hon. Ben A. Etenabene, representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, argued that defecting politicians should automatically lose their seats to deter political exploitation. He proposed laws clearly defining such vacancies and stressed the importance of leveraging technology, such as installing CCTV at polling units, to ensure transparency.
Etenabene also proposed creating Election Agent Service Providers—independent entities to oversee elections alongside INEC.
A Federal House of Representatives member from Bayelsa State, Fred Agbedi, encouraged citizens to reject financial inducements during elections, warning against mortgaging their future. He also called for inclusivity in electoral reform discussions, urging ruling party participation in debates to ensure balanced solutions. Drawing inspiration from the United States, Agbedi suggested that political parties directly participate in constituting electoral commissions to enhance accountability and minimise manipulation.
Former ActionAid Country Director Ene Obi criticised Nigerians’ muted response to governance challenges, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy, which led to sharp price hikes. She lamented the lack of collective resistance to policies that burden the populace.
The convener of the Free Nigeria Movement, Dr. Moses Paul, highlighted the need for systemic reforms rather than focusing solely on individual leaders. He argued that addressing structural challenges would significantly strengthen Nigeria’s democratic processes.
Other speakers, including Dr. Peter Piper, Ibrahim Abdukarim, Christian Chima, Young Piero, Sam Amadi, and Mallam Idris Kalgo, echoed the call for an overhaul of Nigeria’s electoral system. They emphasised addressing persistent challenges to ensure the integrity of future elections.
