By Jane Okeke
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has criticised the swift presidential assent to the amended Electoral Act, warning that it weakens transparency and public trust in elections.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by Convener Yunusa Ya’u alongside co-conveners Mma Odi and Celestine Odo, the group said the law failed to mandate compulsory electronic transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
According to the coalition, leaving electronic transmission subject to network availability creates loopholes that could be exploited to manipulate election outcomes.
The group said the omission represents a major setback in Nigeria’s electoral reform efforts and undermines accountability mechanisms demanded by citizens.
It recalled that court decisions after the 2023 elections held that the Electoral Act did not expressly make electronic transmission mandatory, adding that the National Assembly had an opportunity to correct the gap but failed to do so.
“The amended law, in its current form, falls short of the minimum standards required to guarantee credible elections,” the statement noted, warning that the decision could reverse recent gains in public confidence.
The group also announced plans for a National Day of Action to push for legislative review making electronic transmission compulsory.
Meanwhile, the Situation Room said it would observe the forthcoming FCT Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday across the six councils — Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali — involving over 1.6 million registered voters.
It disclosed that 68 accredited observers, partner organisations and a citizen reporting application would be deployed to monitor the exercise.
The coalition expressed concern over historically low voter turnout in the FCT, particularly in AMAC, warning that distrust in result transmission could worsen voter apathy.
It also noted confusion arising from conflicting movement restriction announcements by authorities and urged security agencies to ensure voters and election officials move freely on election duty.
The group identified security flashpoints including vote buying and intimidation in AMAC, political thuggery in Gwagwalada, kidnapping risks in Bwari and cross-border threats in Kwali.
While acknowledging deployment of security personnel, the observers urged officers to remain neutral and prioritise voter protection.
The group also challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission to upload polling unit results in real time and ensure BVAS devices function optimally across all polling units.
It called on residents to vote peacefully and avoid vote trading, stressing that democratic accountability depends on citizens’ participation.
