Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Nigerian Senate over what he described as deliberate delays in amending the Electoral Act 2022, warning that the credibility of the 2027 general elections could be seriously compromised.
Atiku raised the concern in a statement issued on Thursday, where he pointed to weaknesses in the existing electoral law as a major factor that undermined the integrity of the 2023 general elections.
He argued that loopholes in the Act created room for widespread electoral malpractice and made it extremely difficult for aggrieved candidates to successfully challenge election outcomes in court.
According to him, the challenges witnessed during the last general elections underline the urgent need for legislative reforms ahead of future polls.
Atiku stressed that unless the Electoral Act is reviewed, the same issues that plagued the 2023 elections could reoccur in 2027.
He maintained that the legal framework governing elections must be strengthened to restore public confidence in the electoral process and ensure fairness.
The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party alleged that the Senate has shown reluctance to advance proposed amendments to the law, despite widespread calls for reform.
He warned that continued delay in passing the amendments would amount to a conscious effort to weaken Nigeria’s democratic process.
Atiku said the urgency with which the Senate treats the amendment bill would determine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
He added that failure to finalise the reforms before the next election cycle could be interpreted as an attempt to manipulate the process long before voting begins.
The Electoral Act 2022, which currently regulates elections in Nigeria, was signed into law in February 2022.
The National Assembly is considering an amendment bill aimed at addressing deficiencies observed during the 2023 general elections ahead of the 2027 polls.
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