Citizens’ Memorandum for the Reform of the Electoral Legal Framework

The Citizens Memorandum for Electoral Reforms presents proposals for improving Nigeria’s electoral process. These proposals stem from a comprehensive analysis of current challenges and the need to rebuild public trust in the electoral process. The manifesto incorporates lessons from past reforms, the 2023 general election, and recommendations from domestic and international election observers. It aims to address the inadequacies, complexities and ambiguities of the 2022 Electoral Act and align the electoral legal framework with landmark judicial rulings that improve the electoral process. As the National Assembly undertakes another round of electoral reforms, the memo serves as a resource tool for legislators and other election stakeholders to understand priority electoral amendments and their strategic objectives. The recommendations focus on two components of the electoral legal framework: the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and the 2022 Electoral Act.

The recommendations for the review of INEC’s regulations and Guidelines are contained in the INEC Memorandum for administrative reform. The Citizens memo contains thirty-seven (37) recommendations across fifteen (15) strategic objectives and address sixteen (16) priority reform areas. Part I contains twenty-one (21) recommendations for constitutional amendments, while Part II proposes sixteen (16) amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act.