Ex-rep seeks Electoral Act amendment ahead of 2027 polls

Dachung Bagos, a former member of the house of representatives, has called for urgent reforms to the electoral framework, warning that failure to strengthen the system could undermine the credibility of the 2027 polls.

Bagos, who represented Jos south/Jos east federal constituency under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) failure to upload results on the result viewing (IREV) portal during the 2023 polls eroded public trust in the process.

Speaking on Focus Nigeria, a political programme on AIT, the former lawmaker noted that civil society organisations must now take the lead in demanding changes to the Electoral Act.

“I expect civil societies, Yiaga, and the rest should start hammering on the issue of IREV. The way civil societies pushed for the Not Too Young To Run law, they should now push for the credibility of elections in 2027 through amendment of the Electoral Act,” he said.

Bagos described the IREV failure as the single most damaging factor in the last general election, noting that it discouraged citizens from believing in the power of their votes.

“What killed the morale of Nigerians in the 2023 election is the IREV not displaying the results. That is very key. We should have more agitation, more sensitisation, more pressure on the national assembly to ensure that this becomes law,” he said.

He noted that electoral credibility must reflect the will of the people, not the convenience of political leaders.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s not about what either the president or the national assembly wants. No, it’s what the people want,” he said.

Bagos added that because governance is sustained by taxpayers’ money, Nigerians have a right to demand transparency and accountability.

“The revenue generated in Nigeria today to run government is not APC’s money, it is Nigerians’ money,” he said.

“So, Nigerians have the right to demand good governance, and good governance has to do with strong democracy. Strong democracy is tied to a strong electoral system, because when the electoral system is strengthened, it brings in credible leaders that Nigerians genuinely voted for.”