“Whenever They Don’t Like It, They Alter It” — Northern Group Accuses Executive over Electoral Bill

The Arewa Consultative Forum has raised alarm over what it described as growing threats to Nigeria’s democracy following controversies around the Electoral Act Amendment Bills currently before the Senate and House of Representatives.

The group said the latest developments show that key provisions of the bill are being tampered with due to pressure from powerful interests.

It warned that such actions could weaken the credibility of future elections and damage public trust in democratic institutions.

The forum restated its demand for real-time electronic transmission of election results. It said this provision is critical for transparency and for strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process.

Speaking through its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, the body accused the legislature of surrendering its independence and allowing outside forces to influence its work. He said lawmakers must act in the interest of Nigerians and not in favour of the executive or other vested interests.

According to him, “There appears to be clear interference in the work of the legislature. It seems that whenever a provision is passed that is not acceptable to the executive or certain powerful interests, attempts are made to alter it.”

He added that Nigerians must closely monitor what is happening to the Electoral Act Bill, warning that the issue goes beyond one piece of legislation. He said similar pressure had earlier been noticed in other bills, including the tax reform bill, and that democracy now appears to be under steady strain.

Muhammad-Baba argued that once a bill has followed due process and been passed, it should not be changed arbitrarily. He said there are laid-down constitutional procedures for reviewing or amending any law, and these must be respected.

He warned that altering provisions simply because some groups are uncomfortable with them undermines democratic norms. He added that even court judgments can only be revisited through proper legal channels, not through political pressure.

The ACF also accused the National Assembly of failing to defend its constitutional mandate. It said the 10th Assembly has shown a pattern of yielding to external influence instead of asserting its authority as an independent arm of government.

The group described the situation as a setback for Nigeria’s democratic growth. It warned that continued interference in the lawmaking process could weaken confidence in the 2027 general elections.

It urged lawmakers to use the remaining period of their tenure to rebuild public trust. The forum called on them to strictly follow constitutional provisions in handling the Electoral Act Bill and other sensitive legislation.