By Abubakar Yunusa
Stakeholders at the National Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Electoral Reform have urged the National Assembly, state legislatures, and the President to expedite the passage and signing of constitutional alteration bills aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the forum held in Abuja and hosted by the Youth Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija).
The communique was jointly signed by the Executive Director of Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) and YERP-Naija National Coordinator, Bukola Idowu; Executive Director of New Generation Girls and Women Development (NIGAWD), Abimbola Aladejare-Salako; Executive Director of Child Protection and Peer Learning Initiative (CPPLI), Ashraf Tukur; Executive Director of JAEZ Development Foundation (J-DEV), Zigwai Ayuba; Executive Director of Catch Them Young Community Initiative (CATYCOI), Nonso Orakwe; and Executive Director of Connected Advocacy, Prince Israel Orekha.
The forum brought together representatives of civil society, professional bodies, students, and labour unions, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
According to the communiqué, participants recommended constitutional amendments to remove the power of appointing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman from the President and vest it in an independent, non-partisan body.
They also demanded the introduction of independent candidacy and reserved seats for women to enhance inclusivity and gender equity in politics.
Other key recommendations included the amendment of the 2022 Electoral Act to make electronic transmission of results mandatory, allow early and diaspora voting, and establish an Electoral Offences Commission to handle the prosecution of electoral crimes.
“The National Assembly and the President should pass and sign into law all proposed reform bills that will strengthen the electoral process and restore public confidence,” the communiqué stated.
The stakeholders further urged the President to appoint a new INEC Chairman and National Commissioners through a transparent and participatory process ahead of the expiration of the current Chairman’s tenure in October 2025.
“The President should be magnanimous in evolving a transparent system that allows citizens to participate in the appointment process to rebuild public trust in INEC’s leadership,” the forum added.
Participants advised that the constitutional and electoral reform process be concluded by December 2025 to allow adequate time for public sensitisation and implementation before the next general elections.
They also encouraged youths, civil society groups, and professional associations to engage actively in advocacy, legislative outreach, and public hearings to sustain momentum for electoral reform.
The communiqué noted that public confidence in Nigeria’s elections had declined due to the conduct of recent polls, stressing that credible elections remain the bedrock of democracy.
It added that the imminent expiration of the INEC Chairman’s tenure presents an opportunity for the government to show genuine commitment to electoral credibility.
