Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and civil society organisations have raised concerns over an electoral act delay ahead of 2027, urging the Senate to conclude amendments to Nigeria’s Electoral Act in time for the next general elections.
In a personally signed statement, Atiku said unresolved gaps in the current law could undermine confidence in future elections if not addressed early.
“It is imperative that if the mistakes of the 2023 election are to be corrected, the legal instrument governing the conduct of the 2027 elections must be reviewed and strengthened,” Atiku said.
He added that prolonged legislative delay risks weakening public trust in the reform process.
“Anything short of timely amendments amounts to a deliberate failure to safeguard the credibility of the 2027 general elections,” he stated.
Civil Society Raises Reform Concerns
The CREAP Africa Initiative echoed similar concerns, warning that continued delay could erode democratic safeguards.
Its executive director, Sylvanus Udoenoh, said electoral reforms delayed risk becoming ineffective.
“Electoral reforms delayed are electoral reforms denied. The credibility of the 2027 elections depends on whether these amendments are passed in time and implemented effectively,” Udoenoh said.
He urged lawmakers to prioritise the amendment bill, stressing that the issue transcends partisan considerations.
“The Senate must treat this process as a national priority. Nigeria’s democratic future depends on it,” he added.
Senate Process Ongoing
The Senate has yet to announce a definitive timeline for concluding work on the amendment bill, citing the need for consultations and harmonisation with existing legal frameworks.
Advocacy groups have maintained that concluding the process well ahead of 2027 would allow the Independent National Electoral Commission sufficient time to operationalise any approved changes.
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