Breaking: Ex-INEC chairman announces Electoral Act sections that must be amended before 2027

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has called for urgent amendments to key provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act, warning that unresolved loopholes could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

He made the remarks in a paper titled “Some Reflections on the 2026 Electoral Act and Nigeria’s Electoral Democracy” presented at the launch of a book on legislative studies in Abuja.

Jega specifically identified Sections 60(3), 83(5), and 138(1) of the Electoral Act as requiring immediate review, arguing that certain provisions remain vulnerable to manipulation despite the law’s overall improvements.

The former INEC chairman expressed concern over the section that allows the use of Form EC8A for manual collation whenever electronic transmission fails, warning that such a provision could be exploited by politicians determined to manipulate election results.

He also criticised the restrictions placed on courts in handling internal political party disputes, insisting that constitutional breaches and the rights of citizens must not be shielded from judicial scrutiny.

Beyond amending the Electoral Act, Jega advocated broader electoral reforms, including removing the President’s power to appoint the INEC chairman and national commissioners to strengthen the commission’s independence.

He further called for stricter campaign finance regulations and comprehensive reforms aimed at reducing the influence of money in politics while improving transparency, accountability, and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls.