A former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has described loopholes in the Electoral Act 2022 as a major setback to the credibility of the 2023 general elections.
The former Vice President claimed that the gaps in the law enabled widespread rigging and made it nearly impossible for petitioners to successfully prosecute their cases in court.
According to a post via his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, Atiku said correcting the flaws observed during the 2023 polls requires an urgent review of the legal framework guiding elections in Nigeria, beginning with amendments to the Electoral Act.
He stated that the failure to address the shortcomings of the 2022 Act would jeopardise the credibility of the 2027 general elections and future polls.
However, the former vice president expressed concern that the Senate appears unwilling to expedite the passage of the proposed amendments to the Act, warning that such delays could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
Atiku also referenced a recent report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), describing it as an indictment of the Senate and a call for greater legislative responsibility.
“The credibility of the 2027 general elections hinges on the urgency with which the Senate treats this crucial bill,” he said.
He stressed that it is imperative for the National Assembly to finalise the amendments and ensure that an updated Electoral Act governs the conduct of the 2027 elections.
“It is, therefore, imperative that the Senate finalises the amendments and ensures 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.
