Jega, Igini warn Electoral Act 2026 flaws could sabotage 2027 elections
Former INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega and ex-Akwa Ibom REC Mike Igini warn that flaws in Nigeria's Electoral Act 2026 could sabotage the 2027 general elections. They cite Section 137's allowance for manual result transmission when electronic fails, which they say enables manipulation, and Section 138's removal of certificate forgery as an offence—contradicting the Constitution and past election annulments. They also highlight contradictory Sections 63(1) and 63(2) on ballot paper validity, which led to the Supreme Court upholding 165,616 unstamped ballots in Kano's 2023 governorship election.
These provisions undermine election integrity by enabling result manipulation and weakening accountability for electoral offences. Jega and Igini, drawing from their INEC experience, argue the Act's flaws favour manipulation over credible polls, risking a repeat of disputed elections like those in Bayelsa and Imo states in 2019 where ballot paper security was compromised.
The National Assembly must urgently repeal Sections 137, 138, and the contradictory clauses in Section 63 to prevent electoral sabotage. As the 2027 elections approach, Nigerians should demand these fixes to ensure their votes count—otherwise, flawed laws could perpetuate a cycle of disputed results and eroded trust in democracy.