Senator Ireti Kingibe criticises lawmakers, alleging the Electoral Act was altered from original reform proposals during legislative process
Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), accused lawmakers of significantly altering the Electoral Act, claiming the final version differed sharply from the original reform proposals.
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Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, Kingibe, a member of the Committee on Electoral Reforms, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the legislative process that produced the current law.
She stated that many provisions contained in the final Electoral Act were not part of the draft agreed upon during committee deliberations involving the Senate, House of Representatives, INEC, and civil society organisations.
According to her, the document presented for passage had undergone extensive changes that undermined the original intent of the reform process.
Kingibe said she possesses original versions of the draft and can clearly identify sections that were altered or removed before the final approval.
She cited concerns over ballot paper security features, stressing that such safeguards had historically been standard practice in Nigerian elections.
The senator questioned how credible elections could be conducted without adequate security measures to prevent electoral fraud, insisting that key protections appeared to have been omitted in the final law.
Kingibe further explained that the reform process spanned two years of consultations aimed at strengthening the electoral system and ensuring free and fair elections.
However, she lamented that the outcome fell short of expectations, describing the final document as a significant departure from what stakeholders had agreed upon.
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Her remarks have renewed debate over the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral framework and raised concerns about transparency in the legislative amendment process.
