A prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has strongly criticised Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the controversy surrounding the amendment of the Electoral Act, calling for his removal from office if he does not resign.
Okonkwo made the remarks during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, aired on Channels Television on Sunday, where he expressed concern over the Senate’s handling of provisions related to the electronic transmission of election results.
According to him, retaining what he described as ambiguous provisions in the Electoral Act could undermine electoral transparency and perpetuate electoral malpractice.
“What it means is that Senator Godswill Akpabio has become an enemy of democracy and is sticking to the vicious cycle of election rigging, manipulation, falsification, and subterfuge by trying to maintain the same provision that the Supreme Court warned against,” Okonkwo said.
He added, “That man is an enemy of democracy and should be removed if he doesn’t resign.”
The Electoral Act Amendment Bill recently passed its third reading in the Senate. A key area of debate has been Clause 60(30), which addresses the electronic transmission of election results.
Last week, the Senate resolved to retain the provision for electronic transmission of results as contained in the 2022 Electoral Act but rejected proposals seeking to mandate real-time transmission.
The Red Chamber also declined a proposal for a 10-year ban on individuals caught engaging in vote-buying, opting instead to maintain the existing sanctions of fines and jail terms.
The development has sparked varied reactions from political stakeholders, legal experts, and civil society organisations, with ongoing debates about how best to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of future elections.
