Electoral Act: Lawmakers could destroy Nigeria’s democracy – Utomi

Political economist and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Pat Utomi, has criticised members of the National Assembly over their role in the recent amendment of the Electoral Act, warning that their actions could endanger Nigeria’s democracy.

The amended Electoral Bill, passed by the National Assembly last month and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, has drawn strong opposition from several political parties demanding an immediate review.

Speaking on The Morning Brief on Channels Television on Monday, Utomi accused federal lawmakers of prioritising personal political survival over national interest.
 

“What we have has become a sham National Assembly,” he said. “Because they are playing more to their interest of staying in power, they forget that they can lose legitimacy — the whole system can lose legitimacy — and that what they are doing is inviting anarchy.”

He cautioned that actions perceived as self-serving could erode public trust in democratic institutions and destabilise the country.

“They had better save themselves and the system now,” Utomi added. “Their paying dearly could mean all of us ultimately pay dearly, because we could lose our democracy — our capacity for law, order, good governance, and progress.”


Utomi also expressed concern over what he described as political maneuvering between the Senate and the presidency, warning that such developments could steer the country in a dangerous direction.

“I don’t think people who are playing these games between the Senate and the presidency quite understand where this could lead Nigeria,” he said, urging that the law be returned to the National Assembly for reconsideration.
 

He stressed that elected representatives have a fiduciary duty to reflect the will of the people, not pursue narrow interests.

Drawing a comparison with the United States, Utomi noted that members of the House of Representatives there face elections every two years to ensure accountability to the electorate, arguing that lawmakers must remain closely aligned with public expectations.