A new national coalition, the Save Democracy Mega Alliance 2027 (SDMA’27), has launched a campaign to amend Nigeria’s Constitution to eliminate the President’s control over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the state governors’ authority over State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).
This coalition aims to prevent executive influence in the electoral and judicial systems by transferring appointment powers to a new independent body.
At a briefing in Abuja, the spokesperson for the group, Comrade Tony Akeni Le Moin, announced that the coalition would formally launch in all states, culminating in a “boot camp” finale in Abuja.
He highlighted that SDMA’27 is focusing on two main constitutional amendments: removing the president’s and governors’ authority to appoint heads of INEC, SIECs, and the judiciary, and transferring these responsibilities to a body of vetted, non-partisan Nigerians.
The coalition, endorsed by notable leaders and pro-democracy groups across the country, has also gained the support of Professor Pat Utomi, a respected political economist. Utomi praised the movement as a major milestone for Nigerian democracy since 1999, referencing the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform report, which similarly recommended reforming executive appointment powers for INEC and the judiciary.
He noted that insulating these institutions from executive control would promote fair elections and enhance governance.
The group issued a call to action, warning that without these reforms, the 2027 elections risk repeating past instances of electoral manipulation. Citing Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words on the necessity of organized resistance, SDMA’27 urged Nigerians to prepare for what they described as a “national emergency” to reclaim Nigeria’s democracy.
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