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The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has taken note of the danger to democracy posed by the disputes regarding the Electoral Act Amendment Bills in the Senate and House of Representatives.

The forum is advocating for real-time transmission of election results in the proposed law, as it believes this will improve transparency and bolster Nigeria’s democratic process.

According to the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, external forces were influencing the National Assembly and it was not adequately asserting its constitutional independence.

The ACF called on the legislators to “redeem themselves” by making choices that serve the collective interest of all Nigerians.

According to him, “There appears to be clear interference in the work of the legislature. It seems that whenever a provision is passed that is not acceptable to the executive or certain powerful interests, attempts are made to alter it.”

Nigerians were urged by the forum to closely monitor developments regarding the Electoral Act Bill in the National Assembly, as its implications extend beyond just one piece of legislation.

It stated that the issues Nigerians are facing go beyond just the tax bill; it now includes the electoral bill. It emphasized that democracy seems to be increasingly pressured step by step, given that the legislature has the constitutional power to enact laws.

Muhammad-Baba indicated that if laws established through due process are being improperly altered or revisited, democracy is evidently at risk, emphasizing that this should be a concern for all Nigerians and every civic organization.

He contended that the existing process of creating laws was influenced more by individual, sectional, or external interests than by constitutional procedure.

Muhammad-Baba held the view that the current state of lawmaking in Nigeria is indicative of personal or sectional biases. He felt that when these interests do not succeed within the established legislative framework, there seems to be an influence of coercion or undue pressure.

He mentioned that it could manifest in various ways, such as purported forgery or the inappropriate reintroduction of bills that have been settled already.

Muhammad-Baba indicated that there are constitutional processes for reviewing or amending laws, emphasizing that changes should not be made at random simply due to the dissatisfaction of certain stakeholders.

As he sees it, there are established procedures for revisiting legislation; it cannot be done simply by changing provisions during the process because of someone’s discomfort with them. He emphasized that even after a law has been passed, the Constitution provides mechanisms for amendment or review.

He believed that even the Supreme Court could be asked to reconsider its decisions through appropriate legal means, noting that what Nigerians are witnessing indicates a departure from established democratic norms.

He characterized the situation as regrettable and partially caused by the legislature’s own actions, arguing that if the legislature had consistently asserted its independence and safeguarded its integrity, this situation might not have occurred, and therefore it must take responsibility for it.

He remarked that the 10th National Assembly has regrettably shown a propensity to give in to external pressures, emphasizing that this situation stems largely from its failure to robustly uphold its constitutional authority to legislate free from interference by any branch of government.

The development was characterized by the ACF as a hindrance to Nigeria’s democratic growth, with a warning that it could weaken public trust in the electoral process leading up to 2027.

It called on legislators to utilize the rest of their time in office to rebuild public confidence by demonstrating their independence and complying rigorously with constitutional requirements when dealing with the Electoral Act Bill and other important legislation.

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