The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the rejection of key electoral reforms by the 10th APC-led Senate, describing the move as a deliberate attempt to weaken Nigeria’s electoral system and pave the way for renewed manipulation of future elections.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party faulted the Senate for voting down provisions that would have enhanced the credibility, transparency and integrity of elections in the country.
According to the ADC, the Senate’s rejection of the electronic transmission of election results was particularly troubling, as it “clearly signals yet another attempt by the APC to undermine the will of the Nigerian people and manipulate future elections.”
The party also criticised the Senate’s decision to vote against reforms that would have enabled the electronic download of voter cards from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) website, reduced the statutory notice period for elections, and shortened the timeline for the publication of candidates from 150 days to 60 days.
“These proposed provisions were intended to provide the necessary safeguards against electoral abuse and to restore voter confidence in the electoral process,” Abdullahi said. “What the Senate has done instead amounts to tampering with the law in order to expand opportunities for rigging and impose logistical nightmares on INEC that will make future elections even less efficient.”
He argued that the development reflected the ruling party’s use of its numerical strength in the National Assembly to advance partisan interests at the expense of democracy.
“The net sum of this disgraceful action is that the APC has exploited its majority status in the National Assembly to tamper with the law and lay the groundwork for all manner of electoral malpractice,” the ADC spokesperson stated.
Abdullahi further accused the APC of lacking the confidence to submit itself to free and fair elections, citing what he described as the hardship imposed on Nigerians under the party’s leadership.
“Nigerians are well aware that the APC is mortally afraid of subjecting itself to free and fair elections because of the unprecedented suffering it has visited on ordinary Nigerians,” he said. “However, no one expected them to go this far in mutilating our nation’s electoral laws.”
The ADC warned that the rejection of the reforms amounted to a betrayal of democratic principles and an attempt to cling to power through legislative manipulation.
“At this critical moment, all well-meaning Nigerians must hold the APC accountable for actions that continue to weaken democracy and erode public trust in our electoral system,” Abdullahi said.
Describing itself as Nigeria’s leading opposition party, the ADC said it “unequivocally condemns this retrogressive action of the Nigerian Senate” and called on citizens to reject it.
The party also appealed to the Conference Committee on the Electoral Act to overturn the Senate’s position.
“We call on the Conference Committee to reject the Senate’s submission and to pass amendments that align with democratic principles and truly reflect the will and aspirations of the Nigerian people,” the statement concluded.
