The Convener of the Civil Society Situation Room, Clement Nwankwo, has called on Nigerians to persist in raising their voices against certain provisions in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill recently passed by the Senate, cautioning that the current version could compromise the credibility of future elections.
Nwankwo made the appeal on Thursday, the 5th of February, 2026, during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show, following the passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 by the Senate.
According to him, the Senate’s version does not reflect the stance of the majority of lawmakers, noting that several senators expressed dissatisfaction with the decision-making process.
He warned that the Senate’s rejection of electronic transmission of election results and its adjustments to electoral timelines could present logistical challenges for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and potentially trigger electoral disorder.
Nwankwo encouraged citizens to advocate for the adoption of the version passed by the House of Representatives, which he said better incorporated public consultations and stakeholder inputs.
He stated: “I think citizens have to raise their voices. I know that the ‘Situation Room’ organized a protest last week. I believe that this will continue.
I think the labor unions, citizens, the media have been doing excellent job, even in your program, your analysis and your comments on these issues are so very important, and it is important that this continues.
What I see that has been passed is really the views of those who have the power to hit the gavel and decide whether a yes is a yes or a no is a no in terms of voting.
But I know that a lot of senators themselves are very aggrieved by the way the gavel have been hit on this matter.
And I think that citizens should canvas that the version that the House of Representatives has passed, which is very much more in consonance with the consultations that the National Assembly has had with citizens, should be what is retained.
READ ALSO: Amupitan: INEC Ready For 2027 Elections Despite Electoral Act Delay
But as it is today, what the National Assembly has done, the Senate, particularly, is not the views of majority of senators. I am told what has happened is going to create electoral chaos.
There is no way that these timelines that the Senate has tampered with will stand in terms of INEC’s logistics preparations. What has happened is that electoral chaos will be created by this new timelines that the Senate has put out as its position.”
Reports indicate that the Senate passed the bill on Wednesday after its third reading, but rejected a proposed amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3, which sought to make electronic transmission of election results mandatory.
The development comes amid continued pressure from the media and other stakeholders, who have argued that electronic transmission is essential to guaranteeing free, fair, and credible elections ahead of the 2027 polls.