A coalition of civil society Organisations Has asked the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan to resign if the National Assembly fails to pass the delayed electoral reform bill in 30 days.
The coalition group which is made up of Center For Liberty, Concerned Nigeria, The Electoral Hub, and Raising New Voices Initiative made the demand at a media briefing in Abuja and threatened to shut down legislative activities by occupying the National Assembly complex.
The groups said Ahmad Lawan and the leadership of the joint committee of the National Assembly on Electoral Matters have betrayed the solemn pledge made to Nigerians on 9 December 2020, at the public hearing conducted on the electoral bill.
They accused the ruling All progressives Congress, APC, the main opposition party, People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and political key players for displaying unconcern attitudes to achieve credible elections in the country.
It further noted that petitions have been forwarded to some Nigeria’s foreign partners on democratic governance to alert them that the 9th National Assembly unreadiness to pass a new Electoral Act in order to review their partnership with the National Assembly and predicate future support on the passage of the Electoral Act.
The electoral reforms bill if passed, is expected to immediately bring integrity to elections, embrace technology and open the process to transparency and accountability.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
