Former presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has described flaws in the Electoral Act 2022 as a significant hindrance to the integrity of the 2023 general elections.
The ex-vice president asserted that the deficiencies in the legislation allowed for extensive manipulation and created significant barriers for petitioners to effectively pursue their cases in court.
In a post on his verified X account on Thursday, Atiku stated that addressing the issues identified during the 2023 elections necessitates an immediate assessment of the legal framework governing elections in Nigeria, starting with changes to the Electoral Act.
He mentioned that not dealing with the flaws of the 2022 Act would threaten the integrity of the 2027 general elections and upcoming votes.
The former vice president voiced worries that the Senate seems reluctant to speed up the approval of the suggested changes to the Act, cautioning that these delays might erode public trust in the electoral system.
Atiku also mentioned a recent report from the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), calling it an indictment of the Senate and a demand for increased legislative accountability.
“The credibility of the 2027 general elections hinges on the urgency with which the Senate treats this crucial bill,” he said.
He emphasized that it is imperative for the National Assembly to finalize the amendments and ensure that an updated Electoral Act governs the conduct of the 2027 elections.
“It is, therefore, imperative that the Senate finalize the amendments and ensure 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,” he added.
