Group Storms National Assembly in Protest Against Electoral Act Amendment Bandits

The National Assembly is on the news again. This time for controversy surrounding the Electoral Act Amendment (2021).

Some members of the public as well as some key political stakeholders believe that until some of the challenges concerning electoral violence, bloodshed, ballot box snatching and so on that has  been characterized in Nigerian elections are addressed, an amendment is incomplete.

Meanwhile, a Bill for an Act to ensure that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) adopts electronic voting method for  future elections was introduced and the Bill scaled through a second reading without hitches. But just recently, there were speculation on social media suggesting that part of the Bill has been altered.

The Bill which was sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, and co-sponsored by Senator Abubakar Kyari titled “ A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act No. 6 2010 and for other Related Matters, 2019 (SB.122)’ , seeks the amendment of section 65 of the Electoral Act 2010 by introducing a ‘National Electronic Register of Election Results’.

Today, a group staged a protest at the National Assembly gate to express their grievances over the rumored alteration in some part of the Bill. They also  urged the government to let the will of the people prevail.

Speaking during the protest, one of the conveners , Mr Aristotle Ariyo stated that the National Assembly seems to be working against the President who promised Nigerians a free and fair electoral system. He therefore urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that no part of the Bill its altered.

Other people present joined their voices and pleaded with the government to also reduce cost of election as well as party tickets in other to give room for youths participation in Nigerian Elections.