Thirteen civil society groups have rejected the Senate introduction of consensus as a mode for the nomination of candidates by political parties in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

The groups faulted the action of the Senate in a statement jointly signed by them, hours after the lawmakers modified the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act.

They argued that the consensus mode is opposing to democratic principles and will result in the subversion of popular will, while also violating the rights of aspirants to equal participation in party primaries.

According to them, the consensus option limits the choice of voters to candidates who did not emerge from democratic primary elections, and has also been subject an array of litigations in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Some of the organizations include Yiaga Africa, CLEEN Foundation, Centre for Investigative Journalism, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, among others.