Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Senate of deliberately obstructing efforts to amend the Electoral Act 2022, warning that continued delays could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Atiku highlighted loopholes in the current Electoral Act as a major factor that compromised the 2023 polls.
He argued that the gaps in the law facilitated widespread electoral malpractice and made it extremely difficult for petitioners to pursue their cases in court.
“A major setback to the 2023 elections is the loopholes in the Electoral Act 2022 that paved the way for the brazen rigging of that election, and the near-impossibility for petitioners to advance their cases in the courts,” Atiku said.
He stressed the need for urgent legislative action to prevent a repeat of such challenges in future elections, particularly in 2027.
“It is imperative that if the mistakes of the 2023 election are to be corrected, the legal instrument for the conduct of the 2027 and subsequent elections needs to be reviewed,” he added.
Atiku further alleged that the Senate was intentionally delaying the passage of proposed amendments to the Electoral Act.
“But as things stand, it has become obvious that the Senate is determined to frustrate the passage of amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act,” he said.
He warned that failing to amend the law ahead of 2027 could amount to a deliberate attempt to compromise the electoral process.
“The credibility of the 2027 general elections hinges on the urgency with which the Senate treats this crucial bill. It is imperative that the Senate finalises the amendments and ensures the updated law governs the conduct of the 2027 elections. Anything short of this is a deliberate attempt to rig the election long before the ballots are cast,” Atiku stated.
The Electoral Act 2022, signed into law in February 2022, currently regulates the conduct of elections in Nigeria.
The National Assembly is considering an Electoral Act Amendment Bill, designed to address gaps identified during the 2023 polls in preparation for the 2027 elections.
