Obidient Movement Calls for Electoral Reform to Save Nigeria’s Democracy

The Obidient Movement has sounded the alarm on the state of Nigeria’s democracy, calling for urgent electoral reforms to prevent the country’s democratic institutions from suffocating.

According to Yunusa Tanko, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, the Executive, Legislature, Judiciary, and the Press all need to be reformed to ensure the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.

Tanko made the call at an event in Enugu State, emphasizing the need for radical reforms to address the challenges facing Nigeria’s democracy.

He noted that the recent national elections have raised significant questions about their fairness and transparency, with allegations of irregularities leading to widespread doubts about the legitimacy of the outcome.

The Obidient Movement is advocating for the unbundling of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into three separate entities:

1. Electoral Commission: Responsible for conducting elections.

2. Enforcement Commission: Responsible for enforcing electoral laws and regulations.

3. Delimitation Commission: Responsible for delineating electoral boundaries.

Additionally, the movement is calling for the appointment of the INEC Chairman to be reformed to ensure independence and impartiality.

The Obidient Movement has outlined several key demands for electoral reform, including:

1. Strict Compliance with Educational Qualifications: Candidates must provide evidence of their educational qualifications.

2. Compulsory Debates: Candidates must participate in debates to ensure transparency and accountability.

3. Mandatory Voting: All registered voters must participate in elections.

4. Proportional Representation: The National Assembly must be based on proportional representation to ensure fair representation.

5. Electronic Transmission of Results: Results must be transmitted electronically to prevent manipulation.

6. Burden of Proof on INEC: INEC must justify the results presented, rather than relying on the courts to resolve disputes.

7. Decampee Seats: Seats vacated by decampees must be declared vacant and fresh elections held.

8. Diaspora Voting: Nigerians in the diaspora must be allowed to vote.

9. Consolidated Voters’ Card: Voters’ cards must be consolidated into one card with value attached to encourage registration.

10. Implementation of Justice Muhammad Uwais Report: The report must be considered and implemented to address electoral reforms.

The Obidient Movement is emphasizing the importance of the people as the fifth estate of governance, noting that the Executive, Legislature, Judiciary, and Press are all there to serve the people. Without the people, these institutions have no purpose.

The Obidient Movement’s call for electoral reform is a wake-up call for Nigeria’s democracy. The movement is urging all stakeholders to take action to address the challenges facing the country’s democratic institutions and ensure that the will of the people is respected.