A coalition of 25 civil rights organisations on Friday congratulated Nigerians on the new Electoral law, describing it as a huge milestone in Nigerians’ quest to consolidate democracy.
The members of the coalition which pushed for the signing of the Electoral Amendment Bill 2022 included Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Yiaga Africa, Partners for Electoral Reform, International Press Centre, Institute for Media and Society, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, The Albino Foundation, Centre for Citizens with Disability, Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, Labour Civil Society Coalition, Transition Monitoring Group, CLEEN Foundation and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre.
Others were Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, Nigeria Network of Non-Governmental Organisations, Inclusive Friends Association, Enough is Enough, The Electoral Hub, Centre for Liberty, Take Back Nigeria Movement, International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre, 100 Women Lobby Group, Women in Politics Forum, Raising New Voices, Millennials Active Citizenship Advocacy Africa and Ready To Lead Africa.
The CSOs in a joint statement released by the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, added, “We, as civil society, commend the President for fulfilling his promise of assenting to the Electoral bill. We also commend the National Assembly for their responsiveness in ensuring the bill substantially reflects the will of the Nigerian people and for transmitting same to the President upon citizens’ demands.
“We call on INEC to as a matter of urgency issue a notice of election and announce new dates for the 2023 general elections.”
The CSOs also called on the National Assembly to “ensure gazetted copies of the Electoral Act 2022 are available to citizens and election stakeholders in a timely manner” because “a delay in this will further reduce the opportunities for citizens and stakeholders to sufficiently familiarise with provisions in the new Act and support its implementation.
A former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Uche Anichukwu, said elections would never be the same again and more Nigerians would be encouraged to exercise their franchise, knowing their votes would count.