The CLEEN Foundation, in collaboration with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, ActionAid Nigeria and other concerned civil society actors, on Monday staged a peaceful protest to the National Assembly, urging lawmakers to urgently review what they described as retrogressive provisions in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2025.
The protesters called on the federal legislature to reverse sections of the proposed amendment that they believe could weaken Nigeria’s democratic process and undermine public confidence in future elections, particularly the 2027 general polls.
Addressing journalists during the protest, representatives of the coalition said their demands were clear and non-negotiable, stressing that the integrity of the electoral process must not be compromised for political convenience.
Top among their demands is the mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results, with specific emphasis on making electronic upload to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) compulsory.
According to the group, anything short of this would amount to a setback for transparency and accountability in elections.
The civil society organisations also called for the restoration of the 360-day election notice period, arguing that the proposed shorter timelines would constrain effective preparation, voter education, and stakeholder engagement.
They further urged the Conference Committee of the National Assembly to retain the progressive provisions earlier agreed upon by the Joint Committees, warning against last-minute alterations that could dilute hard-won electoral reforms.
“The National Assembly must rise to the occasion and demonstrate true statesmanship by safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy,” the coalition stated, adding that credible elections remain the foundation of political stability and national development.
The protest, which remained peaceful, concluded with a strong appeal to lawmakers to prioritise the will of Nigerians over partisan interests, as civil society vowed to continue mobilising public pressure until meaningful electoral reforms are secured.
The groups rallied under hashtags including #ProtectTheVote, #ElectoralBill2025, #ElectronicTransmissionNow, #ReverseTheShorterTimelines, and #NoGlitchIn2027, signaling sustained advocacy in defence of electoral integrity.
The Evangelist News
