Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has demanded honest political competitors, institutional independence, clear election administration and safety of residents’ democratic rights forward of the 2027 basic elections.
While assessing preparations for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for kick off January 16, 2027, the group stated developments within the weeks previous the polls will be as consequential to credibility as voting and collation on election day.
In the assertion collectively signed: by the Convener, of the Situation Room, Yunusa Z. Ya’u and Co-Conveners, Mma Odi and
Celestine Odo the coalition expressed concern over political realignments, inside get together disputes, restrictions on political competitors, inflammatory rhetoric, election-related violence, questions on electoral expertise and the voters’ register, and rising scrutiny of independence of electoral establishments.
On the shrinking political house, it cited disputes within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and different opposition platforms, and allegations of interference in opposition actions, together with ADC’s problem securing venues in Sokoto for its marketing campaign.
It additionally condemned restrictions on opposition visibility by way of excessive price of marketing campaign billboards. It listed presidential billboard allow charges at N200 million in Abia, N150 million in Enugu, Kogi and Cross River, N75 million in Rivers, N50 million in Anambra and N40 million in Benue, towards typical leases of N200,000 to N15 million month-to-month.
“All candidates must have fair and reasonable access to public advertising spaces, and relevant authorities must ensure fees, permit procedures and allocation of billboard locations are transparent, proportionate and applied without discrimination,” it stated.
It demanded investigation into assault on feminine ADC supporters in Sokoto on October 28 and alleged assault on ADC governorship candidate’s convoy on October 30.
Regarding insecurity, it cited CLEEN Foundation’s evaluation recording 70 bodily election-related incidents throughout 19 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between January 1 and October 27, 2026, with 27 fatalities. It condemned the “rig and die” remark by former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, saying electoral offences should be dealt with by way of regulation, not threats.
Situation Room additionally commented on the Electoral Act 2026, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make clear safeguards for digital transmission of outcomes to IReV underneath Section 60(3).
It additional urged the fee to state clearly the procedures to be adopted when transmission of election outcomes fail and Form EC8A is to be used.
On INEC independence, the coalition questioned the nomination of Prof. Mustapha Aliu primarily based on alleged household tie to Sokoto Governor, and redeployment of Mrs. Oluyemi Adeyemi-Showunmi to head Electoral Operations regardless of her marriage to APC marketing campaign council member.
It urged INEC to publish a report on verification of the preliminary Register of Voters, now over 103 million, earlier than certification by December 15, 2026.
It referred to as on the judiciary to resolve circumstances on intra-party disputes well timed, whereas urging safety businesses to be neutral of their operations.
In addition, Situation Room requested authorities to cease abuse of incumbency and vote shopping for, and media to counter disinformation and AI-generated content material.
