Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the National Assembly of Nigeria to urgently review aspects of the Electoral Act, warning that certain provisions could undermine the credibility of future elections.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku specifically criticised Section 63 of the law. The clause permits a ballot paper without an official mark to be counted at the discretion of a returning officer—a provision he described as a serious risk to electoral integrity.
According to him, such discretion introduces ambiguity into a process that should be strictly guided by clear and verifiable standards. He argued that lawmakers ought to have exercised greater caution when dealing with provisions that directly affect the sanctity of the ballot.
“A ballot paper is not an ordinary document but a legal instrument that determines the legitimacy of an election,” he stated, warning that any loophole allowing subjective judgment could open the door to manipulation and disputes.
Atiku further noted that the controversial clause is not entirely new, describing it as a carryover from previous electoral frameworks that was retained without sufficient safeguards. He stressed that leaving critical decisions to individual interpretation weakens public confidence in the electoral system.
The former vice president also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen its operational guidelines to minimise the role of personal discretion among electoral officers. He maintained that electoral processes must be anchored on transparency and consistency to reflect the true will of the people.
Additionally, he called on international observers and democratic partners to closely monitor Nigeria’s legal and electoral processes, noting that credibility depends not only on how elections are conducted but also on the laws guiding them.
Atiku also placed responsibility on President Bola Tinubu, urging him to ensure that all legislation, particularly those affecting democratic processes, undergo rigorous scrutiny before being signed into law.
The Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) was signed into law by Tinubu on February 18 at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, shortly after its passage by the National Assembly.
