…says dropping 10-year ban on vote buyers threatens democracy

By Gabriel Ewepu 

ABUJA – AN election observer, Kimpact Development Initiative, KDI, Thursday, expressed concerns over the jettisoning of the mandatory electronic transmission of results by the Senate.

The Executive Director, KDI, Bukola Idowu, in a statement signed by him, asserted that the rejection of certain provisions that many stakeholders viewed as critical to strengthening transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the electoral process raises concern and disappointment.

Idowu said: “Notably, the decision not to make the electronic transmission of election results mandatory has generated significant public debate. 

“For many citizens, civil society organisations, election observers, and youth groups, mandatory electronic transmission represented a straightforward and visible mechanism to reinforce trust in election outcomes. Instead, the Senate retained the transmission framework contained in the 2022 Electoral Act. 

“The absence of clearer statutory obligations may continue to leave room for differing interpretations and operational discretion. 

This development raises concerns about preparedness for credible elections in 2027.” 

Meanwhile, he said dropping 10-year ban on vote buyers threatens Nigeria’s democratic development.

“KDI notes that elections are not only legal exercises but also public-trust exercises. Confidence in electoral outcomes is shaped not only by procedures, but by the visibility and predictability of those procedures to ordinary citizens. 

“Strengthening transparency provisions is therefore not merely a technical adjustment; it is an investment in long-term democratic credibility. 

“KDI also notes with concern the Senate’s decision to remove the proposed 10-year disqualification for individuals convicted of vote buying. 

“Vote buying remains one of the most corrosive threats to democratic integrity in Nigeria, distorting voter choice, commercialising the franchise, and undermining the legitimacy of electoral outcomes. 

“Sanctions for electoral crimes must be proportionate to the harm they inflict and capable of serving as effective deterrents.”

Other issues he raised include; the reduction in the statutory timeline for issuing election notices from 360 days to 180 days; the Senate’s position is different from that of the House of Representatives; amongst others.

“As the Electoral Act Amendment Bill proceeds to the conference committee stage, the process presents an opportunity for lawmakers to carefully balance operational realities with public expectations, ensuring that the final legislation both protects institutional stability and strengthens citizen confidence.

“Nigeria stands at a pivotal point in its democratic journey. As preparations gradually begin toward the 2027 general elections, the legal framework governing those elections must not only function effectively but also inspire confidence across political divides and demographic groups, especially among young voters whose participation remains essential to democratic vitality”, he said.