Leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have urged the National Assembly to commence a fresh amendment of the Electoral Act, insisting that the current legislation falls short of Nigerians’ expectations.
Addressing a joint press conference in Abuja on Thursday, NNPP National Chairman, Ajuji Ahmed, said opposition parties were demanding a new amendment process to expunge what he described as “objectionable” provisions in the Act.
The opposition leaders rejected the Electoral Act recently passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Tinubu, arguing that it does not sufficiently guarantee credible elections.
In a communiqué read by Ahmed, they called on lawmakers to urgently reopen the law for review to ensure it delivers free, fair, transparent and credible polls. The group warned that any framework short of these standards would be unacceptable.
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Notable figures at the meeting included former Senate President David Mark, NNPP chieftain Buba Galadima, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Others in attendance at the Lagos/Osun Hall of the Transcorp Hilton included ADC National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Dino Melaye, former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu and former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke, alongside other party officials and stakeholders.
