Situation Room Critiques Electoral Act Amendments Ahead of FCT Polls

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, represented by conveners Yunusa Ya and Mma Odi, criticized President Muhammadu Buhari's rapid assent to amendments in the Electoral Act, warning that it threatens electoral transparency and public trust. They stated that the law fails to mandate compulsory electronic transmission of results, which could create loopholes for manipulation.

The group emphasized that the current form of the law does not meet minimum standards for credible elections and noted that the National Assembly missed the opportunity to correct this gap. Ahead of the FCT area council elections scheduled for Saturday, the Situation Room expressed concern over historically low voter turnout, particularly in AMAC, and warned that distrust in result transmission could worsen voter apathy.

They identified security flashpoints and urged security agencies to ensure a neutral environment for voters. The group also called for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to upload poll unit results in real-time and ensure the functionality of BVA devices across polling units.