SDP Lampoons Senate For Undermining Democracy, Electoral Reforms

...Asks citizens, civil society groups and stakeholders to remain vigilant and united, as Nigeria will not afford another credibility crisis during elections

The Social Democratic Party, SDP, has lampooned the Senate for allegedly undermining democracy by opposing electoral reforms, especially real-time electronic transmission of election results.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Araba Aiyenigba, spoke in a statement in Abuja, on Friday, noting that citizens demanded credible elections during the nationwide public hearings conducted by the Senate in 2025 on the proposed Electoral Act Repeal and Enactment Bill, but the Senate acted contrary to the wishes of the people.

Aiyenigha noted Nigeria would not survive another credibility crisis during elections, the electorate to remain vigilant.

According to him, technologies such as BVAS and the INEC Result Viewing, IReV, portal were essential for transparency, non- manipulation of results at collation centres as well as reduction of errors during elections. 

Aiyenigba further said tthat many senators, citizens and INEC leadership supported the reforms to promote integrity, transparency and credibility, following growing national consensus on strengthening of democratic processes.

He then, urged the Senate leadership not to undermine democracy, pointing out that the proposed Electoral Act provided legal backing for real-time electronic transmission.

The SDP spokesman stressed that INEC possessed adequate infrastructure, technical expertise and commitment to transmit election results electronically, urging the lawmakers to remove the barriers hindering effective electoral administration in the country.

His words, “The nation can not afford to have the 2027 general elections go the way of lack of credibility.

“All hands must, therefore, be on deck to save our democracy and Nigeria from taking retrograde steps in this new age."