Former Minister of Schooling, Oby Ezekwesili, has sharply criticised the Senate over its dealing with of the Electoral Act Modification Invoice 2026, warning lawmakers towards actions she mentioned might additional inflame public frustration and undermine Nigeria’s democracy.
Ezekwesili spoke on Friday throughout an interview on Come up Tv’s The Morning Present, two days after the Senate handed the Electoral Invoice 2026 following hours of debate.
The higher chamber, nevertheless, rejected a proposal looking for to make real-time digital transmission of election outcomes necessary, whereas approving adjustments to election timelines, penalties for electoral offences and using voting expertise.
Reacting to the event, Ezekwesili accused the political class, significantly the Senate, of repeatedly taking choices that alienate Nigerians.
“Cease enjoying with fireplace. It’s nearly as if the political class, particularly as exemplified by the Senate, simply wakes up each morning and says, ‘What lets do immediately to upset Nigerians?’” she mentioned.
She argued that residents have been justified in expressing anger over what she described because the excesses and poor judgment of lawmakers.
“Now, anybody who in any respect helps the concept it’s okay for residents to not be very irritated on the excesses and the sheer lack of even knowledge on the a part of our senators — I don’t know the place that individual is studying from,” the ex-minister said.
Whereas stressing that nobody ought to incite violence, the previous minister mentioned Nigerians should proceed to train their civic rights and stay vigilant in defending democratic values.
“No person desires anyone to be incited, however it’s completely vital for residents to know that they’re performing inside their proper after they train what Thomas Jefferson, one of many legendary presidents of america, mentioned — that everlasting vigilance is the value that residents pay for freedom, for liberty,” she mentioned.
Ezekwesili additional warned that lawmakers should not deal with Nigeria as their private area.
“These senators can’t run Nigeria as if it have been their fiefdom. Nigerian democracy belongs to the folks, it doesn’t belong to the politicians,” she added.
The Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act Modification Invoice has continued to draw public consideration, significantly over the choice to reject provisions mandating real-time digital transmission of election outcomes.
A number of civil society teams and political commentators have argued that digital transmission is crucial to strengthening transparency and restoring public confidence in elections, particularly after the controversies that adopted the 2023 common elections.
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