Respect Citizens’ Views, Don’t Act as Overlords — PLAC Tells Senate on Electoral Act Review
The Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) has urged the Senate to respect the views of citizens and refrain from acting as overlords in the ongoing review of the Electoral Act.
The call was made on Thursday by PLAC’s Executive Director, Clement Nwankwo, during an interview.
Nwankwo said a broad consensus had already been achieved through joint National Assembly committees, public hearings and zonal consultations on key electoral reforms, including the real-time electronic transmission of election results.
He, however, criticised the Senate’s decision to resort to closed executive sessions on an issue of significant national and public interest.
The PLAC boss stressed that the Electoral Act does not belong to any individual, describing it as a national property that must reflect the will of the people.
“You have to be transparent. People elected you as a legislator; you didn’t fight your way into that position. You were elected by the people, and you represent the people.
“You must respect citizens’ views. Don’t act as overlords. There is nothing that makes you superior to the ordinary Nigerian. You were elected, and you are accountable to the people.
“When you beg people to vote you in, you must listen to them. That is what is painful to a lot of us. You act as if you are an overlord, but you are not listening to us, the citizens,” he said.
