A coalition of youth-focused organisations under the Youth Political Participation (YPP) Electoral Reform Consortium has cautioned federal lawmakers that refusing to support key electoral reforms in the ongoing constitutional amendment process could erode public trust and jeopardise their re-election prospects in 2027.
As the National Assembly prepares to take decisive votes on proposed alterations to the 1999 Constitution, the groups demanded the adoption of a transparent digital voting system that allows Nigerians to see how each lawmaker votes on every reform issue. They argued that while open voting has been declared in the past, it has remained largely symbolic because citizens are unable to access detailed voting records or verify individual votes.
The consortium, led by the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), the National and North Central partner of the coalition, insisted that lawmakers must show genuine commitment to strengthening electoral integrity by embracing full transparency in the process.
During a press briefing in Abuja to mark the National Day of Action on Youth-Led Electoral Reforms, the groups urged parliamentarians to end the longstanding practice of voice voting and adopt real-time digital voting where each legislator’s position is visible to the public.
KDI’s Head of Research and Strategy, Oluwafemi Adebayo, said the Assembly’s failure to release individual voting data from past digital voting sessions had damaged citizens’ confidence. He warned that lawmakers could face public outrage similar to the criticism that followed the previous Assembly’s rejection of gender-related amendments—an episode civil society groups described as opaque and unaccountable.
Speaking on the broader reform agenda, Mercy Abiem, Programme Manager for Gender at KDI, called for a transparent, merit-based system for appointing INEC leadership, the establishment of strict timelines for resolving all election-related cases, and the creation of an Electoral Offences Commission. She noted that these reforms are vital for rebuilding trust in elections, easing political tensions and guaranteeing credible outcomes.
The consortium urged lawmakers to support the youth-led proposals, stressing that their decisions during the constitutional review process will demonstrate their commitment to Nigeria’s democratic future.
