By Francis Wilfred
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo hosted Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua and his delegation on an advocacy visit centered on the landmark Early Voting Bill, which sought to enfranchise security personnel, electoral workers, and other categories of Nigerians often excluded from participating in general elections due to the nature of their national duties.
The Minister commended Senator Yar’Adua, describing him as “a brother, a friend, and one of the brightest minds we have.” He also acknowledged the presence of the Senator’s team, civil society representatives, and the leadership of YIAGA Africa, praising their commitment to democratic reforms.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo highlighted that the Early Voting Bill is a necessary and overdue piece of legislation that addresses long-standing issues of voter disenfranchisement. “This bill is, in a way, an indictment on all of us who have passed through the National Assembly. It raises the question how did we not think of this sooner?” he said, citing historical examples such as the 2011 Nasarawa State gubernatorial election, where over 20,000 election-day personnel were unable to vote despite a victory margin of only 4,425 votes.
The bill, as explained by the Legislative and Legal Support Staff to Senator Yar’Adua, proposes an amendment to the Electoral Act to allow for early voting at least seven days before general elections. This would specifically apply to members of security agencies, INEC staff, and other electoral workers who are deployed for election-day duties.
The Director of Programs at YIAGA Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu emphasized the significance of this reform for Nigeria’s democratic process. “The early voting bill is a bold step towards expanding electoral participation and ensuring that those who secure our elections are not denied the right to vote,” she noted. “It reflects our commitment to a more inclusive democracy.”
The Minister further called for broader discourse on other marginalized groups, including awaiting-trial inmates. Noting that 70% of Nigeria’s correctional facility population are legally presumed innocent, he asked, “Why should they be denied their constitutional right to vote?”
He urged that the focus should now be on the extent to which all stakeholders are willing to go to ensure this bill is passed and implemented, stressing that “any reasonable democrat should see the necessity of this without further persuasion.”
The session reaffirmed commitments from the Ministry of Interior, the Senator’s legislative team, and YIAGA Africa to collaborate and build broad-based support for the bill across relevant institutions.
The Early Voting Bill, sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, seeks to amend the Electoral Act to allow eligible citizens who are unable to vote on election day due to official assignments—particularly security personnel and electoral staff to cast their votes in advance. The initiative is designed to strengthen electoral inclusion, uphold democratic rights, and improve voter turnout.
