Civil society groups warn Electoral Act 2026 could undermine 2027 elections
Leading civil society organisations have criticised the newly signed Electoral Act 2026, describing it as a “missed opportunity for transformative reform” and warning that unresolved loopholes could threaten the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
At a press conference on Thursday, hours after President Bola Tinubu assented to the Act, a coalition including the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), The Kukah Center, International Press Centre (IPC), ElectHer, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, The Albino Foundation (TAF Africa), and Yiaga Africa condemned both the content of the law and the process of its passage.
The groups expressed concern that the bill was hurried through the National Assembly without transparency, citing reports that the harmonised version was adopted via voice vote without distribution to all lawmakers. They warned that last-minute amendments, including critical provisions on real-time electronic transmission of results, were inserted without structured debate.
“The speed and opacity raise serious concerns about lawmakers’ commitment to genuine electoral reform,” said Jake Epelle, founder of TAF Africa, reading the coalition’s statement. The groups also accused the Presidency of granting assent despite legal, technical, and democratic concerns.
Despite the criticism, the coalition welcomed certain provisions, including downloadable voter cards to reduce disenfranchisement, a disability-inclusive register, and stronger anti-fraud penalties for election officials. They described these as “among the strongest anti-fraud sanctions in Nigeria’s legislative history.”
However, the groups highlighted major vulnerabilities in the law, such as Section 60(3), which mandates electronic transmission of results but allows physical forms to take precedence during “communication failure,” without defining the term or specifying penalties for deliberate sabotage. Other concerns include limits on who can trigger election result reviews, the ₦50 million party registration fee, and restrictions on nomination methods that could increase elite manipulation.
Looking ahead, the civil society coalition pledged vigilant monitoring of the law’s implementation. They urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish a revised election timetable, issue clear regulations, and conduct a nationwide simulation of the IReV electronic transmission system with independent observers. They also called on political parties to publicly commit to defending electronic transmission at every polling unit.
The groups concluded that while the Electoral Act 2026 is “imperfect” and “incomplete,” it remains the framework for the 2027 elections, and it is the responsibility of citizens, media, and civil society to ensure the polls are credible, transparent, inclusive, and reflective of the will of Nigerians.
