By John Alechenu, Abuja
More than 100 Nigerian, African and international human rights organisations have called on the National Assembly to withdraw what they described as restrictive bills capable of undermining civic space ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The groups, in a joint petition made public in Abuja on Monday by the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, warned that the proposed legislations could expand executive control and weaken freedoms of expression, assembly, association, media and access to information.
The coalition expressed concern over what it termed a growing number of “restrictive and repressive bills” before the National Assembly, arguing that their passage would affect democratic participation, accountability and the rule of law.
The petitioners said, “If enacted, these bills would significantly expand executive control over civic life and further undermine the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, freedom of association, media freedom, access to information, democratic participation and the rule of law.”
