Stakeholders at the National Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Electoral Reform have called on the National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, and President Bola Tinubu to urgently pass and sign pending constitutional alteration bills aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system and restoring citizens’ confidence in democracy.
The appeal was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by the Executive Director of Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) and YERP-Naija North-Central/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 event, organised by the Youth Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija), drew participants from civil society, professional bodies, student unions, and labour organisations, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
The communiqué recommended that the power to appoint the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) be removed from the President and transferred to an independent, non-partisan committee.
It also proposed the introduction of independent candidacy and reserved seats for women to enhance fairness, inclusivity, and gender equity in the political process.
Stakeholders further demanded amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 to make electronic transmission of results compulsory, while also allowing early voting and diaspora voting. They renewed calls for the establishment of 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.
Participants also urged the President to appoint a new INEC Chairman and National Commissioners transparently, 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 communiqué added.
The forum recommended that all constitutional and electoral reforms be concluded by December 2025 to allow for public sensitisation and effective implementation before the next election cycle.
They also encouraged Nigerian youths, civil society groups, and professional associations to engage actively in the reform process through advocacy, legislative engagement, and public awareness campaigns.
The communiqué emphasised that credible elections remain the cornerstone of democracy and warned that public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process has eroded following dissatisfaction with recent polls.
It added that the forum’s primary goal was to strengthen consensus among stakeholders, coordinate advocacy strategies, and set a reform agenda for the National Assembly as it resumes legislative activities in October.
“The expiration of the tenure of the INEC Chairman presents an opportunity for the government to demonstrate genuine commitment to electoral credibility,” it concluded.
