Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) has urged the Senate to uphold transparency and give due consideration to the opinions of Nigerians in the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act, cautioning lawmakers against adopting an authoritarian posture.
The call was made by PLAC’s Executive Director, Clement Nwankwo, during an appearance on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” programme on Thursday the 5th of February, 2026.
Nwankwo explained that extensive engagement had already taken place through joint committees of the National Assembly, as well as public hearings and zonal consultations, where stakeholders reached agreements on several critical reforms. Among the areas of consensus, he noted, was the real-time electronic transmission of election results.
He criticised the Senate’s decision to deliberate on such a sensitive national issue behind closed doors, describing the use of executive sessions as inappropriate for a matter that directly affects the democratic rights of citizens.
According to him, the Electoral Act does not belong to any individual or institution but to the nation as a whole, stressing the need for openness and accountability in the review process.
He said:”You have to be transparent. People elected you as a legislator; you didn’t fight your way into that position. You were elected by the people, and you represent the people.
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“You must respect citizens’ views. Don’t act as overlords. There is nothing that makes you superior to the ordinary Nigerian. You were elected, and you are accountable to the people.
“When you beg people to vote you in, you must listen to them. That is what is painful to a lot of us. You act as if you are an overlord, but you are not listening to us, the citizens,” he said.
The advocacy group maintained that ignoring public input would undermine trust in the legislative process and weaken democratic governance.