Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Senate of deliberately stalling efforts to amend the Electoral Act 2022, cautioning that continued inaction could threaten the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Atiku highlighted what he described as significant loopholes in the current Electoral Act, which he said undermined the fairness of the 2023 elections.
He argued that these gaps allowed widespread electoral malpractice and made it extremely difficult for election petitioners to present their cases effectively in court.
“A major challenge of the 2023 elections stemmed from loopholes in the Electoral Act 2022, which facilitated blatant rigging and made it nearly impossible for petitioners to pursue their cases in court,” Atiku said.
He emphasized the need for urgent legislative reforms to prevent similar issues in future elections, particularly the 2027 polls.
“If the shortcomings of the 2023 election are to be addressed, the legal framework guiding the 2027 and subsequent elections must be reviewed,” he added.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate further accused the Senate of intentionally blocking the proposed amendments to the law.
“At this point, it is clear that the Senate is determined to frustrate the passage of amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act,” he said.
Atiku warned that failing to update the law before 2027 would amount to a deliberate attempt to undermine the electoral process.
“The credibility of the 2027 elections depends on how urgently the Senate acts on this crucial bill. It is essential that the amendments are finalized and the updated law applied for the 2027 polls. Anything less would be a premeditated effort to compromise the elections,” he stressed.
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 issues observed during the 2023 elections in preparation for 2027.
