Jega Seeks Urgent Electoral Act Amendments Ahead of 2027 Polls

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has called for urgent amendments to the 2026 Electoral Act, warning that certain provisions could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections if left unchanged.

Jega made the call while presenting a paper titled "Some Reflections on the 2026 Electoral Act and Nigeria's Electoral Democracy" at an event in Abuja.

While commending the overall objectives of the Electoral Act, the former INEC chairman said several provisions require immediate review to eliminate ambiguities and strengthen Nigeria's electoral process.

He specifically identified Section 60(3), which relates to the electronic transmission of election results, Section 83(5), which restricts judicial intervention in the internal affairs of political parties, and Section 138(1), which removes candidates' qualifications as grounds for post-election petitions, as areas requiring urgent legislative attention.

Although he praised the law for mandating electronic transmission of election results, Jega expressed concern over the provision allowing manual result sheets (Form EC8A) to become the primary collation document whenever electronic transmission fails.

"Given what we know about the Nigerian environment and the desperation of do-or-die politicians, there should not be such a vague provision that can be used to abandon electronic transmission in favour of manual collation, which is more susceptible to manipulation," he said.

Jega also questioned the reliance on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal in resolving disputes arising from transmission failures, arguing that election results should instead be verified using INEC's secure backend database rather than a platform designed primarily for public viewing.

He further criticised Section 83(5), describing it as overly broad because it prevents courts from hearing cases relating to the internal affairs of political parties. According to him, the judiciary should retain the power to intervene where constitutional rights or the rule of law are threatened.

The former electoral umpire also faulted the removal of qualification as a ground for challenging election outcomes, noting that the 1999 Constitution prescribes minimum educational and other eligibility requirements for candidates seeking elective office.

"Besides, it was a useful provision in previous electoral laws, and there appears to be no rational justification for removing it, unless certificate fraudsters and qualification racketeers are to be given a free hand," he said.

Jega urged the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act in line with African Union and ECOWAS protocols, which require significant electoral reforms to be completed at least six months before a general election.

Beyond the immediate reforms, he advocated broader restructuring of Nigeria's electoral system, including changes to the appointment process for the INEC chairman and national commissioners so that the responsibility no longer rests solely with the President.

He also recommended unbundling INEC by transferring responsibilities such as the prosecution of electoral offenders, constituency delimitation, and political party regulation to separate institutions, allowing the commission to concentrate exclusively on conducting elections.

Jega further proposed stricter requirements for political parties seeking to sponsor candidates and called for lower campaign spending limits, arguing that the current thresholds encourage excessive monetisation of politics.

He stressed that electoral reforms should emerge from broad national consultations involving lawmakers, government, political parties, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders, with the overriding objective of strengthening electoral integrity and democratic governance.

The former INEC chairman also expressed concern over what he described as acts of judicial misconduct capable of eroding public confidence in Nigeria's electoral system.

"There are serious concerns arising from the judiciary, with acts of judicial rascality by some judges and justices undermining electoral integrity, democratic development, and public confidence in the courts. The National Judicial Council must act decisively to address these issues," he said.

Jega concluded by emphasising that credible elections require not only a sound legal framework but also responsible political leadership, strong democratic institutions, and active citizen participation to ensure the success of the 2027 general elections.