The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE), alongside leaders of organised civil society and the labour movement, has strongly rejected the newly amended electoral bill passed by the National Assembly, describing it as a dangerous step backward for Nigeria’s democracy.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, MCE faulted the decision of the House of Representatives to abandon its earlier stance on mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results and instead align with what it called the Senate’s “weakened and ambiguity-laden” version of the bill.
“Let us be clear — this was not a technical adjustment. It was a political choice to stand against the will of the people,” the group stated.
According to MCE, the removal of the phrase “real-time” from the law and the introduction of an undefined “failure” clause effectively reopens the door for manual result handling — a process the group says has historically undermined electoral credibility in Nigeria.
The organisation warned that such loopholes preserve “grey zones” that fuel disputed outcomes, prolonged litigation, and post-election instability.
MCE also expressed concern over reports of disorder during plenary deliberations at the National Assembly, noting that critical democratic safeguards were altered amid shouting matches, voice votes, and walkouts.
“When fundamental electoral safeguards are altered amid chaos, citizens are right to question whether democratic procedure is being used to weaken democratic substance,” the statement read.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the group warned that the legislative reversal threatens public confidence even before ballots are cast.
“Democracy does not implode overnight. It erodes through carefully drafted ambiguity,” MCE said, adding that the bill risks triggering another crisis of electoral legitimacy if left uncorrected.
The group issued a direct appeal to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him not to assent to what it described as an illegitimate law. “Nigerians are watching to see if President Tinubu, who prides himself as a democrat, will be inclined to impose an illegitimate bill that will foist electoral darkness and crisis on the people,” the statement said.
MCE concluded by vowing sustained nationwide mobilisation should the bill be forced on Nigerians, insisting that only mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units would be acceptable.
“This time, ambiguity in the electoral law will not pass unchallenged… until the will of the people is respected.”