Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar urged the National Assembly on Wednesday to swiftly review the Electoral Act, warning that a contentious section might erode election credibility if left unchecked.
He expressed his worries in a statement written by his senior special assistant on public communication, Phrank Shaibu.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain notably criticized Section 63 of the act, which enables a ballot paper without an official mark to be counted at the discretion of a returning officer—a clause he claimed invites manipulation.
He believes that politicians should have done a better job of ensuring the ballot’s integrity.
He said, “The leadership of the National Assembly should have been more cautious than casual in handling provisions that touch the very heart of our democracy.
“A ballot paper is not an ordinary piece of paper—it is a legal instrument whose authenticity is central to the credibility of the entire electoral process.
“This is not a minor technical issue—it is a direct threat to electoral integrity.”
Continuing, Atiku warned that any legislative provision that allows for discretion in determining the legitimacy of ballot papers provides a loophole that might be used to undermine the will of the people.
The Waziri of Adamawa further stated that the contentious clause was not new but rather a carryover from prior electoral frameworks, which was kept in the current statute without enough safeguards.
“A democracy cannot survive on ambiguity. A ballot must either meet the standard or it does not. The moment you leave such a critical decision to subjective judgment, you invite manipulation, dispute, and ultimately, chaos.
“At a time when Nigerians are demanding transparency and credibility, it is reckless to retain a clause that weakens confidence in the very foundation of democracy—the vote,” he added.
The former vice president also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to tighten its operational procedures to ensure that electoral officers are not placed in situations where personal judgment may overrule verifiable standards.
He also urged the international community, election monitors, and democratic partners to closely monitor Nigeria’s electoral legislative framework, emphasizing that the credibility of future elections is dependent on both the law and the process.
“The world is watching. Nigeria must not send a signal that its electoral system can be bent by interpretation. The president, Bola Tinubu, also bears a duty to subject every critical piece of legislation to rigorous scrutiny before appending his signature.
“Leadership demands vigilance. The document he assented to ought to have passed the most stringent integrity test,” Atiku added.
On February 18, Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law in the Presidential Villa in Abuja, one day after the National Assembly passed it.
The major officers of the National Assembly attended the signing ceremony, which began about 5:00 p.m.
