Civil Society Groups Demand Urgent Constitutional Amendments and Implementation of 2026 Electoral Act Ahead of 2027 Polls

Civil society groups call for urgent constitutional amendments, including independent candidacy and gender inclusion, to secure the integrity of Nigeria's 2027 polls.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 27, 2026, 7:21 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Sun Nigeria

Urgent Call for Legislative Completion

As the window for pre-election reform narrows, the South-South partner of YERP-Naija, Connected Advocacy, has issued an urgent appeal to the National Assembly. Executive Director Prince Israel Orekha emphasized that the passage of critical constitutional amendment bills is essential to restoring public trust, particularly among Nigeria's youth. The organization is advocating for the immediate transmission of these bills to State Houses of Assembly for concurrence to avoid the legislative bottlenecks that have historically plagued last-minute electoral reforms. By finalizing these amendments now, civil society aims to provide a stable legal framework well in advance of the 2027 campaign cycle.

Priority Reforms for Inclusivity and Accountability

The advocacy group highlighted four specific bills as mechanical necessities for a more inclusive democracy:

Reserved Seats for Women (HB 1349 & SB 440): Aimed at correcting the persistent underrepresentation of women in political offices.

Electoral Offences Commission Bill (HB 1219): To establish an independent body for investigating and prosecuting electoral crimes.