By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Senate of deliberately stalling efforts to amend the Act, describing the situation as troubling and dangerous for Nigeria’s democracy.
Atiku blamed loopholes in the Electoral Act 2022 for what he described as the major flaws that undermined the credibility of the 2023 general elections, warning that failure to urgently amend the law could compromise the 2027 polls.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, Atiku, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said weaknesses in the current electoral framework enabled “brazen rigging” and made it extremely difficult for aggrieved candidates to successfully pursue election petitions in court.
He argued that meaningful reform of the electoral process cannot be achieved unless the legal instrument guiding elections is reviewed ahead of 2027 and future polls.
“At the heart of the setback recorded in the 2023 elections were loopholes in the Electoral Act 2022, which paved the way for widespread manipulation and rendered judicial redress almost impossible for petitioners,” Atiku said.
According to him, a recent investigative report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) exposed the reluctance of the upper legislative chamber to act, serving both as an indictment and a call to legislative responsibility.
“The credibility of the 2027 general elections hinges on the urgency with which the Senate treats this crucial bill,” he stated, stressing that Nigerians are closely watching the National Assembly’s handling of the proposed amendments.
Atiku warned that failure to conclude the amendment process in good time would amount to an attempt to compromise the integrity of the 2027 elections even before voting begins.
“It is imperative that the Senate finalises the amendments and ensures that the updated law governs the conduct of the 2027 elections,” he said. “Anything short of this is a deliberate attempt to rig the election long before the ballots are cast.”
He urged lawmakers to rise above partisan interests and prioritise reforms that would strengthen transparency, fairness and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
