Nigerian Groups Reject Senate's Electoral Act Amendment

The Movement for Credible Elections, along with Civil Society and Labor groups in Nigeria, have issued a joint statement rejecting the Senate's amendment to Section 60(3) of the Electoral Act. The amendment mandates electronic transmission of election results via a portal, with a fallback option for manual collation in case of network issues.

The groups, led by veteran Olawale Okunniyi, argue that the amendment falls short of the Nigerian public's demand for electoral reform, as it could potentially open the door to electoral manipulation. They emphasize the importance of real-time transmission of results to prevent fraud and maintain public confidence in the electoral process.

The statement highlights concerns that manual collation could compromise the integrity of elections and perpetuate the status quo. The groups call for a system that blocks manipulation and ensures the credibility of election results.