Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has identified weaknesses in the Electoral Act 2022 as a key factor that undermined the credibility of the 2023 general elections.
Atiku argued that loopholes in the law created room for widespread electoral malpractice and made it difficult for aggrieved parties to successfully pursue justice through the courts.
In a statement shared on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, the former vice president said addressing the challenges witnessed during the last general elections requires an immediate review of Nigeria’s electoral legal framework, starting with amendments to the Electoral Act.
He warned that failure to correct the identified shortcomings could threaten the integrity of the 2027 general elections and future polls.
Atiku further expressed concern over what he described as a lack of urgency by the Senate in considering the proposed amendments, cautioning that prolonged delays could further erode public trust in the country’s electoral system.
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Referencing a recent report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Atiku said the findings amounted to a strong indictment of the National Assembly and underscored the need for greater legislative accountability.
“The credibility of the 2027 general elections depends largely on how urgently the Senate treats this crucial bill,” he stated.
He stressed that the National Assembly must conclude work on the amendments in good time to ensure that an updated Electoral Act is in place before the next elections.
“Anything short of this would amount to a deliberate effort to compromise the process long before votes are cast,” Atiku added.
