Former World Bank Vice President, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, is one of Nigeria’s leading advocate for transparency and good governance. In this interview, she warns the Nigerian Senate against retaining ambiguities in the Electoral Act. She argues that the current legislative stance on the electronic transmission of results risks completely alienating the Nigerian electorate. The former Education minister spoke on Arise News on Friday morning.
You recently addressed the National Assembly, telling them they must “know when to stop playing with fire.” The contentious issue here is whether the Electoral Act should mandate the “transfer” or “transmission” of results and whether INEC should have discretion over that. What do you believe the core problem is regarding trust?
The fundamental issue is that the Senate retained Section 60, subsection 5 of the 2022 Act, which became infamous for the loophole it provided. It allowed INEC to fail the young people of this country who were promised that results would be uploaded to the Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real time.
When they failed to do that in 2023, it became the basis for doubting everything that happened at polling units. The opportunity for reform was seen by citizens as one that must not be missed to remove every ambiguity and loophole.
If the Senate decides to “let sleeping dogs lie,” citizens have every reason to be outraged.
You mentioned that citizens are angry. We often talk about the “Office of the Citizen” as the highest office in the land. What is the next line of action? What are the lawful paths for citizens to engage their representatives so this isn’t seen as a betrayal of trust?
The office of the president is the highest office in the land, but it is the office of the citizen that gives it legitimacy. When citizens say that the 2023 experience eroded their confidence and ask to change a vexing provision, the government must listen. The options are clear: First, citizens are already speaking loudly to show this isn’t their expectation. Second, they must speak directly to their specific representatives and senators. Third, they should demand a public hearing at the National Assembly to put this matter to rest.
The majority of this country is asking for the real-time upload of results. If citizens disavow democracy because they feel their voices don’t matter, those in power should be very worried.
Lawmakers seem not to get it. In the last election, less than 35% of registered voters came out. They have already “checked out.” Why are we even using words like “inciting” when citizens react to being told they are “stupid” by these legislative maneuvers? What are we supposed to do—kneel and beg them?
That is why I used the phrase “stop playing with fire.” It is as if the political class, exemplified by the Senate, wakes up and asks, “What shall we do today to upset Nigerians?” It is entirely necessary for citizens to know they are acting within their rights. As Thomas Jefferson said, “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” These senators cannot run Nigeria as though it were their fiefdom.
What is your final recommendation for the Senate to walk back from this?
I have recommended that the Senators immediately cancel their two-week emergency vacation and reconstitute to pass the clear text of that provision. The text is unambiguous: “The presiding officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the INEC results viewing portal (IReV) in real time.” This must be done after the EC8A form is signed and stamped. The Senators know how to walk away from this disaster. Transparency is better than the fire they are playing with.