Electoral Act Accelerated Assent Portends Dangers Of Unchecked One-party Dominance – Kwankwasiyya Movement
By Abdullahi Yusuf
The Kwankwasiyya movement has said that the recent passage and accelerated presidential assent to amendments of the Electoral Act portend dangers of unchecked one-party dominance in the polity.
The movement’s views were expressed in a statement issued by its Spokesperson,Dr.Habibu Sale Mohammed.
The group is worried that the amendments to the Electoral Act were given such speedy treatment despite widespread public protests, consistent civil society advocacy, expert warnings, and clear public sentiment in favour of stronger electoral safeguards.
“The Kwankwasiyya movement expresses concern over the recent passage and accelerated presidential assent to controversial amendments of the Electoral Act despite widespread public protests, consistent civil society advocacy, expert warnings, and clear public sentiment in favour of stronger electoral safeguards. This laid bare the dangers of unchecked one-party dominance.
“It is now evident that the All Progressives Congress (APC) exercises overwhelming influence across the Executive and the National Assembly, a dominance significantly strengthened by defections from elected officials who secured their mandates on the platforms of other political parties.
‘These defections are not merely political movements; they raise serious moral and constitutional concerns. When elected representatives abandon the political platforms upon which they were entrusted with the peoples mandate without clear ideological justification or constituency consultation it amounts to a distortion of democratic representation.
“The mandate belongs to the electorate, not to the personal convenience of officeholders.
“Nigerias democracy was designed to function on the principles of checks and balances. A vibrant opposition, legislative independence, and responsiveness to public opinion are foundational pillars of constitutional governance. When defections systematically weaken opposition ranks, legislative scrutiny diminishes, and executive proposals face reduced resistance regardless of public sentiment.
‘The controversy surrounding the amended Electoral Act is a clear example. Despite nationwide demonstrations, position papers from respected civil society organizations, and broad public discourse calling for stronger guarantees of transparency, the ruling party ultimately secured its preferred legislative outcome.
“This sequence of events reinforces the perception that the growing numerical dominance in the legislature is translating into diminished accountability.
“Democracy rarely collapses suddenly. More often, it erodes gradually through the normalization of opportunistic defections, the shrinking of institutional opposition, and the passage of laws that fail to reflect the popular will.
“The concentration of power without effective counterbalance creates conditions where the voice of the electorate can be sidelined with minimal institutional resistance.
“The Kwankwasiyya Movement firmly believes that Nigeria must resist any drift toward de facto one-party dominance. Political pluralism, ideological competition, and respect for electoral mandates are essential to preserving democratic vitality. Defection should never become a shortcut to consolidate power at the expense of voters choices,”the movement said.
It called on elected representatives to remember that their loyalty is first and foremost to the Nigerian people,and urged citizens to remain vigilant, peaceful, and actively engaged in safeguarding democratic institutions.
“Nigerias democracy belongs to its people. It must not be weakened by convenience, nor compromised by concentration of power,” the statement added.