The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has observed with dismay the threat to democracy as a result of the controversies surrounding the Electoral Act Amendment Bills in the Senate and House of Representative.
The forum is insisting on real-time transmission of election results in the proposed law, believing that it will enhance transparency and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process.
The ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, opined that the National Assembly was being influenced by external forces and failing to assert its constitutional independence.
The ACF appealed to the lawmakers to “redeem themselves” by taking decisions in the overall interest of all Nigerians.
According to him, “There appears to be clear interference in the work of the legislature. It seems that whenever a provision is passed that is not acceptable to the executive or certain powerful interests, attempts are made to alter it.”
The forum called on Nigerians to pay close attention to developments surrounding the Electoral Act Bill at the National Assembly, saying that the implications go beyond a single piece of legislation.
It said that what Nigerians are witnessing is not limited to the tax bill; now it is the electoral bill, saying that step by step, democracy appears to be under strain, as the legislature has the constitutional authority to make laws.
Muhammad-Baba stated that if laws that have gone through due process are being tampered with or revisited improperly, then democracy is clearly in danger, stressing that every Nigerian and every civic organisation should be concerned.
He argued that the current lawmaking process was being driven more by personal, sectional or external interests than by constitutional procedure.
Muhammad-Baba believed that what Nigerians are seeing in lawmaking now reflects personal or sectional preferences, believing that when such interests fail to prevail through the established legislative process, there appears to be pressure or arm-twisting.
He said that it could take different forms — including alleged forgery or the improper reintroduction of bills that have already been settled.
Muhammad-Baba stated that there are constitutional procedures for reviewing or amending legislation, pointing out that changes should not be made arbitrarily simply because certain stakeholders are dissatisfied.
According to him, there are laid-down procedures for revisiting legislation, it is not a matter of altering provisions midstream because someone is uncomfortable with them, stressing that even after a law has been passed, the Constitution provides mechanisms for amendment or review.
In some cases, he believed that even the Supreme Court can be asked to revisit its decisions through proper legal channels, saying that what Nigerians are seeing suggests that are drifting away from established democratic norms.
He described the situation as unfortunate and partly self-inflicted by the legislature, believing that in fairness, the legislature must also take responsibility if it had consistently asserted its independence and safeguarded its integrity, this situation might not have arisen.
He noted that the 10th National Assembly has unfortunately demonstrated a tendency to yield to pressures from outside the legislature, stressing that the development is largely a consequence of its inability to firmly defend its constitutional mandate to make laws without interference from any arm of government.
The ACF described the development as a setback for Nigeria’s democratic growth and warned that it could undermine public confidence in the electoral process ahead of 2027.
It urged lawmakers to use the remainder of their tenure to restore public trust by reaffirming their independence and strictly adhering to constitutional provisions in the handling of the Electoral Act Bill and other key legislation.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
