Electoral Bill: 26 Civil Society Groups Announce February 22 As National Day Of Protest
About 26 Civil Society Groups have jointly declared February 22, 2022 as a National Day of Protest following delay by President Muhammadu Buhari to assent the reworked Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The Civil Society Groups include the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room; Yiaga Africa; Partners for Electoral Reform (PER); 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 (PTCIJ); Inclusive Friends Association (IFA); Labour Civil Society Coalition (LASCO); Transition Monitoring Group; CLEEN Foundation; Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC); Nigeria Network of Non-Governmental Organizations (NNNGO); Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC); Enough is Enough; The Electoral Hub; Centre for Liberty; Women in Politics Forum; Take Back Nigeria Movement; International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC); 100 Women Lobby Group; Raising New Voices; Ready To Lead Africa and Millennials Active Citizenship Advocacy Africa.
The groups, in a statement, also gave coming Tuesday as ultimatum for President Buhari to assent the Bill based on dates scheduled for the general elections, and if they are to be maintained.
They also claimed that the withdrawing of Buhari's assent to the Electoral Bill will create legal obscurities that will threaten the integrity of the coming elections in Ekiti, Osun, and the 2023 general elections.
According to the released statement: “Aware that on the 31st January 2022, the National Assembly transmitted the Electoral Bill 2022 to the President for assent after expeditiously reworking the bill to meet the President’s expectations.
“Also, aware the bill allows electronic transmission of results, strengthens INEC’s financial independence and empower the commission to reject falsified election results.
“Further aware, the bill, when signed, requires INEC to issue Notice of Election not later than 360 days before the day appointed for an election. Therefore, the President has to give assent to the bill on or before 22nd February 2022 if the dates announced for the 2023 elections are to be maintained.
“The civil society community resolves to declare Tuesday, 22nd February 2022, as the National Day of Protest to demand immediate assent to the bill. Civil society networks will organize peaceful public direct-action activities to further the demand to assent the bill. We urge citizens across the nation to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to act on this matter of urgent national importance.”