Ameh Slams Senate Over Electoral Act Amendment, Calls Clause 60(3) a ‘Sham’

A former presidential candidate and political activist, Chief Peter Ameh, has criticized the Nigerian Senate over its recent amendment to Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, describing the move as a deliberate setback to electoral transparency.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, Ameh faulted the Senate’s decision to permit electronic transmission of election results from polling units only “provided the system does not fail,” arguing that the revision amounts to cosmetic changes rather than genuine electoral reform.

According to him, the amended clause is not materially different from the earlier version that attracted widespread criticism for its ambiguity. He maintained that the conditional provision creates an “escape hatch” capable of undermining transparency in the electoral process.

Ameh warned that tying electronic transmission to the possibility of system failure opens the door to manipulation, particularly at collation centres, where manual interference could be justified under the guise of technical glitches.

Describing the amendment as a “Wayo twist,” he alleged that the provision could be exploited by individuals in positions of authority to influence election outcomes, thereby sustaining public distrust in Nigeria’s electoral system.

“The more the law appears to change, the more it remains the same,” Ameh said, insisting that Nigerians have consistently demanded mandatory, real-time electronic transmission of results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal without conditions or loopholes.

He further argued that the Senate’s action betrays public trust, preserves vulnerabilities to result alteration, and threatens the credibility of future elections, particularly the 2027 general polls.

Ameh accused lawmakers of disregarding citizens’ aspirations for transparent, free, and fair elections, and called on civil society organisations, the media, international observers, and other stakeholders to reject what he described as a half-hearted reform.

“Our votes must count, and our democracy must not be held hostage by self-serving political interests,” he said.