Youth organisations across Nigeria are demanding unprecedented transparency from the National Assembly as it prepares to vote on major amendments to the 1999 Constitution. The groups, operating under the Youth Political Participation (YPP) Electoral Reform Consortium, are calling for the adoption of a digital voting system that publicly displays how each lawmaker votes on the proposed reforms.
Pushing for a Transparent Voting Process
Despite the National Assembly's history of conducting open voting in previous sessions, the youth consortium argues the process remains fundamentally opaque. They contend that Nigerians are unable to see the specific choices made by their representatives during these critical votes or access detailed voting records after legislative sessions conclude.
Leading this demand is the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), which serves as the National and North Central partner of the consortium. The push comes amid mounting pressure on the National Assembly to publicly reveal how each lawmaker votes on key constitutional and electoral reforms currently under consideration.
During a press conference held in Abuja on the National Day of Action on Youth-Led Electoral Reforms, the organisations urgently appealed to lawmakers. They called for the abandonment of the long-criticised voice vote system and the adoption of a digital voting procedure. This new system would allow the public to witness real-time results and track individual voting patterns of their representatives.
Avoiding Past Mistakes and Building Trust
Oluwafemi Adebayo, Head of Research and Strategy at KDI, provided critical insight into the current situation. He acknowledged that while digital voting technology has been used in past deliberations, the legislature consistently withholds detailed data on how individual lawmakers voted. This practice, he noted, significantly fuels public suspicion and erodes trust.
Adebayo issued a stark warning, stating that lawmakers risk repeating the severe public backlash that followed the last Assembly's rejection of gender-related constitutional amendments. During that episode, civil society groups, women-led organisations, and the wider public heavily criticised the opaque voting process.
"We are calling on the National Assembly, in the spirit of transparency and accountability, to avoid voice voting and adopt a digital system where every vote is displayed as it is cast," Adebayo stated emphatically. "Even if it comes to calling each legislator one after the other so Nigerians can see their vote go up or down, it should be done. The country deserves to know where their representatives stand."
Broader Electoral Reform Demands
Mercy Abiem, Programme Manager for Gender at KDI, expanded on the broader reform agenda. She called for a transparent and merit-based process for appointing INEC leadership, a critical step towards restoring faith in the electoral system. Her demands also included the mandatory conclusion of all pre- and post-election cases within a defined timeline and the creation of an Electoral Offences Commission.
Abiem emphasized that these reforms are essential for restoring public trust in elections, reducing political tension, and ensuring credible electoral outcomes across Nigeria.
The YPP Electoral Reform Consortium reinforced this message, stating that these proposed changes respond directly to long-standing public concerns. They reflect demands consistently voiced by young Nigerians who experience the consequences of political manipulation, delayed justice, and weak institutional safeguards firsthand.
The consortium argued that a more trusted electoral system offers clear benefits to lawmakers themselves. It reduces post-election disputes, protects legitimate mandates, and lowers the political and financial costs associated with prolonged litigation.
"Legislators who support these reforms position themselves as champions of democratic accountability," the consortium noted. "This is a legacy that strengthens their standing with constituents and reinforces public confidence in their leadership over time."
The organisations collectively urged lawmakers to demonstrate a genuine commitment to Nigeria's democratic development by voting in favour of these youth-backed proposals, emphasizing that these decisions profoundly affect the stability of communities, the confidence of citizens, and the continuity of democratic governance in Africa's most populous nation.
