According to the coalition, the proposed legislation is being considered at a period when civic space in Nigeria has experienced one of its most significant declines since the country's return to democratic rule in 1999.
A coalition of 71 Nigerian, African and international civil society and human rights organisations has warned that Nigeria's democracy is facing a critical moment, urging the National Assembly to immediately withdraw pending bills which they say threaten civic space, constitutional freedoms and democratic governance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The coalition, which includes Amnesty International Nigeria, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), ActionAid Nigeria, BudgIT Foundation, Yiaga Africa, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Media Rights Agenda, CLEEN Foundation and the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), among others, is expected to present its position at a joint press conference in Abuja on Monday.
In a joint statement titled "Nigeria's Democracy at a Crossroads: A Joint Civil Society Press Conference on Protecting Civic Space, Constitutional Freedoms and Democratic Governance," the organisations expressed alarm over what they described as an escalating assault on civic freedoms in Nigeria.
