Human rights and social justice activist Ene Obi has urged Nigerians to take responsibility for the integrity of their democracy, emphasising the role of civic engagement in ensuring votes are counted, regarding the passage of Nigeria’s new Electoral Act that has sparked debate over election transparency and citizen participation, with advocates warning that the law alone cannot guarantee credible polls.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, Obi stressed the importance of preparing citizens and institutions for the law’s implementation. “When I look at the copy that I have gotten, you know, I hope the Gazette is soon so that it can be available to everybody.”
Obi explained the Act’s scope. “The Amendment Act, you know, is talking in the first place. It talks about the Electoral Act, you know, it talks about the regulation of the conduct of federal, state, and area councils, you know, in the federal capital territory.”
On election preparation and implementation under the new law, she said, “Election has been on the ground and the elections have been announced with using the law that was on ground at the time. So are you going to ignore all of that and now say, because when you bring in law, you have to also allow time to pass and let people be trained to know what the law really is.”
Discussing the specifics of vote transmission, Obi said, “Section 60, subsection 1, is that the presiding officer shall, after counting the votes at the polling unit, enter the votes called by each candidate in a form, you know, prescribed by INEC. They know what they’re talking about already, but you look at subsection 3, the presiding officer shall electronically transmit, you know, the result from each polling unit to the IREP portal. Such transmissions shall be done after the prescribed ECA has been signed and stamped by the presiding officer and so on and so forth.”
She highlighted the importance of trust in the electoral process, “The preparation of INEC is very, very essential, despite the fact that they are reducing the time. From what the Senate president said, every voter, you know, will be, every vote will be counted.”
Reflecting on civil society’s role, Obi said, “We are going to focus seriously. We are mobilising because we can’t just say we are going to be quiet. We will let them hear our voices.
How we are not happy about some of the things that have happened. If I may interject, Yes.
First of all, the Minister of Development says you don’t speak for the Nigerian people, Civil society organisations are overwhelmed. We need citizens to rise and be counted.”
She emphasised citizen responsibility, declaring, “Our mobilisation, some of it, the political education is that Nigerians need to learn to believe in themselves, you know, that each of us have the power. The office of citizenship is the highest office in the land, because we can decide who goes there and who will not go there.”
On the immediate steps for voter engagement, Obi stated. “Now that the law is passed that you can register and also print your card. It means that some of the obstacles have been removed. And so that’s why I say there are pros and cons. You know, so when we are talking of the political education, in 2023, it was civil society that were doing political education,
We are going to observe the election tomorrow, and we will be telling, because we don’t want to give up hope. If we give up hope, everybody will lie down.”
He concluded with a call for accountability, saying. “A Nigerian that your grandfather and your ancestors will be proud of, not the one that you do something you know you are wrong, and you are doing it. Stand upright and be a Nigerian.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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