Southeast Civil Groups Call For Electoral Act Amendment

A group of civil society organisations (CSOs) in the Southeast – Better Community Life Initiative (BECOLIN), South East Partner, Youth Political Participation (YPP) and Electoral Reform Consortium – have demanded for the amendment of sections 153,154 and 285 of the electoral act by the National Assembly.

They stressed that the amendment of these sections will ensure the credibility and independence of the institutions, as well as elevate public confidence in the electoral system .

This was made known by the Programme Director, BECOLIN, Comrade Chibundu Uchegbu, while addressing journalists in Owerri, the capital of Imo State.

According to him, amendment of the electoral act will strengthen transparency, reduce tension associated with electorial process and improve the credibility of results across all levels.

“We demand for transparent, merit-based process for appointing INEC leadership. Amend sections 153 and 154 to remove presidential discretion in appointing the INEC Chair, National Commissioners, and RECs; establish a special non-partisan selection committee drawn from reputable national institutions.

“Current appointment processes raise concerns about political influence. A non-partisan mechanism will strengthen public trust in INEC, enhance neutrality, and reduce perceptions of bias. This reform improves the integrity of elections and reinforces INEC’s independence.

“All pre-election cases before election day and resolution of post-election cases before inauguration.

Amend section 285 to shorten timelines for pre-election and post-election cases; adjust jurisdictional provisions for the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal; introduce eligibility thresholds for filing petitions. Prolonged litigation creates unfair advantages, pressures the judiciary, and allows candidates with pending cases to assume office. Timely adjudication ensures fairness, reduces political tension, and aligns electoral justice with democratic expectations.”

The group demanded for the establishment of Electoral Offences Commission, passage of the enabling Act and related constitutional alignment to empower an independent body to investigate and prosecute electoral offences.

“Violence, vote-buying, intimidation, and impunity undermine elections. A dedicated commission will professionalize investigations, ensure accountability, and deter manipulative practices that compromise the will of voters.”

Comrade Uchegbu highlighted that “these reforms respond directly to long-standing public concerns and reflect demands consistently voiced by young Nigerians who experience the consequences of political manipulation, delayed justice, and weak institutional safeguards.

“Legislators who support these reforms position themselves as champions of democratic accountability, a legacy that strengthens their standing with constituents and reinforces public confidence in their leadership over time”.