The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised the 10th Senate, led by the APC, over its rejection of proposed electoral reforms, describing the decision as a calculated effort to weaken Nigeria’s electoral framework and reopen the door to widespread election manipulation.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused the Senate of deliberately voting down measures designed to improve the transparency, credibility and integrity of the country’s electoral process.

The ADC said it was particularly disturbed by the lawmakers’ refusal to approve mandatory electronic transmission of election results, arguing that the decision clearly points to an attempt by the APC to undermine the will of voters and compromise future elections. The party also condemned the rejection of other proposed reforms, including provisions that would have allowed voters to download their voter cards electronically from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) website, reduced the statutory notice period for elections, and shortened the timeline for the publication of candidates’ names from 150 days to 60 days.

According to Abdullahi, these proposals were meant to introduce safeguards against electoral abuse and rebuild public confidence in the voting process. Instead, he said, the Senate’s action amounted to altering the law in a way that expands opportunities for rigging while creating operational challenges for INEC that could further undermine the efficiency of future elections. He argued that the development exposed how the ruling party was using its numerical advantage in the National Assembly to pursue partisan goals at the expense of democratic principles.

Abdullahi stated that the outcome of the Senate’s decision showed that the APC had leveraged its majority to tamper with electoral laws and create fertile ground for electoral malpractice. He further accused the ruling party of lacking the confidence to face free and fair elections, linking this to what he described as the severe hardship Nigerians have endured under APC governance.

While noting that many Nigerians are aware of the APC’s fear of credible elections, Abdullahi said the extent to which the party had gone in altering electoral laws was unexpected and deeply troubling. He warned that rejecting the reforms amounted to a betrayal of democracy and a desperate attempt to hold on to power through legislative manipulation.

The ADC called on Nigerians to hold the APC accountable for actions it said continue to weaken democratic institutions and erode public trust in the electoral system. Describing itself as the country’s leading opposition party, the ADC said it outrightly condemns what it termed the Senate’s backward decision and urged citizens to resist it.

The party also appealed to the Conference Committee on the Electoral Act to reverse the Senate’s position, calling on the committee to discard the Senate’s submission and approve amendments that uphold democratic values and genuinely reflect the wishes and aspirations of the Nigerian people.