Ezekwesili Issues Stern Warning to Senate Over Electoral Act Amendments
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has delivered a powerful critique of the Nigerian Senate's approach to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026, cautioning that lawmakers are dangerously close to igniting public discontent that could weaken the nation's democratic institutions.
Television Interview Highlights Democratic Concerns
During an appearance on Arise Television's The Morning Show this Friday, Ezekwesili expressed deep concern about the Senate's recent passage of the Electoral Bill 2026. This development followed extensive legislative discussions that resulted in approval of amendments concerning election schedules, penalties for electoral violations, and the implementation of voting technology. However, the upper chamber notably rejected a crucial provision that would have mandated real-time electronic transmission of election results.
"Stop playing with fire," Ezekwesili warned emphatically, suggesting that the Senate's decisions appear calculated to provoke citizen frustration rather than strengthen electoral integrity.
Accusations of Political Alienation and Eroding Trust
The former minister accused Nigeria's political class, with particular focus on the Senate, of consistently making choices that distance citizens from governance processes and diminish public confidence in democratic systems. According to her analysis, Nigerians have every right to express dissatisfaction with what she characterized as repeated poor judgment and excessive actions by elected representatives.
Ezekwesili argued that expecting citizens to remain passive in response to such legislative decisions demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of democratic accountability and governance principles. While explicitly cautioning against violent responses or inflammatory rhetoric, she emphasized that citizens bear responsibility for maintaining vigilance and actively protecting democratic foundations.
Democratic Ownership and Civic Responsibility
The former minister referenced the essential democratic concept that freedom and liberty require ongoing civic participation and public oversight. She issued a direct warning to lawmakers against treating Nigeria as personal property, firmly stating that political power ultimately resides with the electorate rather than political officeholders.
"These senators cannot run Nigeria as though it were their private fiefdom. Nigerian democracy belongs to the people, not to politicians," Ezekwesili declared during her television appearance.
Social Media Amplification of Concerns
Ezekwesili reinforced her position through social media platforms, posting what she described as a "Public Memo" directed at the Nigerian Senate, House of Representatives, and broader political class. In her February 5, 2026 posts on platform X, she urged lawmakers to "Know When to Stop Playing with Fire" and characterized the Senate's preservation of electoral ambiguity as "an act of grave irresponsibility" given historical consequences of unclear electoral processes.
The former minister's interventions highlight growing tensions between Nigeria's political establishment and citizens demanding greater electoral transparency and accountability as the nation approaches another electoral cycle.
