A coalition of the Civil Society Organisations on Tuesday staged a protest in Abuja to compel President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sign the reworked Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The protesters who converged at the Unity Fountain in their number chanting anti-government songs were armed with placards with different inscriptions such as “Buhari Sign Electoral Bill Now, Prevent Elections Rigging, The Bill Protects the Voting Rights of PWDS, Buhari Save Our Democracy among others.”
Armed policemen have been deployed to the Unity Fountain while the convoy of joint task force was sighted at the Eagle Square mobilising for operation.
The CSOs had in a statement recently called on the President to act on this matter of urgent national importance.
The coalition said the bill allowed electronic transmission of results, strengthened the financial independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission and empowered the commission to reject falsified election results.
The coalition include Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Yiaga Africa, Partners for Electoral Reform, International Press Centre, Institute for Media and Society, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, The Albino Foundation, Centre for Citizens with Disability, Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, Labour Civil Society Coalition, Transition Monitoring Group, CLEEN Foundation and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre.
Others are; Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, Nigeria Network of Non-Governmental Organisations, Inclusive Friends Association, Enough is Enough, The Electoral Hub, Centre for Liberty, Take Back Nigeria Movement, International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre, 100 Women Lobby Group, Women in Politics Forum, Raising New Voices, Millennials Active Citizenship Advocacy Africa and Ready To Lead Africa.
