The Youth-led Electoral Reform Project (YERP_Naija), a consortium led by Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), has asked the national assembly to prioritise electoral reforms when it resumes sitting this month.
In a New Year statement issued on Thursday, Bukola Idowu,
executive director of KDI and national coordinator of the YERP_Naija campaign,
urged the federal lawmakers to prioritise amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act
and key constitutional reviews aimed at strengthening electoral integrity and
inclusion.
He commended the house of representatives for completing
clause-by-clause consideration and voting on proposed amendments to the
Electoral Act, describing the move as a significant milestone that lays a solid
foundation for reforms ahead of the next elections.
However, Idowu expressed concern that the senate failed to
commence voting on the electoral reform bills before proceeding on its
end-of-year recess.
“As of December 26, 2025, progress on electoral reform has
remained uneven across the two chambers,” he said.
He said the delay introduces uncertainty into the reform
timeline and highlights the need for sustained legislative focus in the weeks
ahead.
Idowu said several provisions already considered by the
green chamber reflect long-standing demands by young Nigerians for
transparency, accountability, and fairness in the electoral process, following
sustained advocacy across the six geopolitical zones.
“As the senate prepares to reconvene, we respectfully urge
senators to prioritise clause-by-clause consideration and voting on the
electoral reform bills to ensure that Nigeria remains on track to implement
necessary reforms well ahead of the 2027 elections,” he said.
Idowu harped on the timely consideration of constitutional
amendment proposals with direct implications for electoral participation,
fairness, and representation.
He warned that a delay in the review of the Electoral Act
2022 could affect implementation, especially as statutory timelines for issuing
notices of election draw closer.
“Experience has shown that amendments concluded too close to
election periods risk being excluded from implementation due to constitutional
and international obligations,” he said.
“The future of Nigeria’s democracy depends on the timely
passage of these reforms, not postponement.
Idowu said decisions taken by lawmakers in the coming weeks
would shape not only the conduct of the 2027 elections but also public
confidence in democratic institutions.
He urged civil society organisations, the media, youth
groups, and community leaders to sustain public engagement and dialogue at the
constituency level.
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