Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Senate of deliberately slowing down amendments to the Electoral Act 2022, warning that the delay poses a serious threat to the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement shared on his official X handle on Thursday, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) argued that weaknesses in the existing electoral law undermined the integrity of the 2023 polls.
He claimed the gaps in the Act enabled electoral malpractice and made it nearly impossible for aggrieved candidates to successfully challenge election outcomes in court.
According to Atiku, the shortcomings of the law played a decisive role in the outcome of post-election litigations, as petitioners struggled to meet the stringent legal requirements imposed by the flawed framework.
He stressed the need for urgent legislative intervention, insisting that Nigeria must not approach another general election without addressing the issues exposed during the last polls.
He maintained that a comprehensive review of the Electoral Act is essential to safeguard future elections and restore public confidence in the democratic process.
The former vice president further alleged that the Senate was intentionally obstructing efforts to pass the proposed amendments currently before the National Assembly.
He described the delay as a calculated move that could compromise the electoral process well ahead of the 2027 elections.
Atiku warned that failure to act promptly would amount to undermining democracy, arguing that the credibility of the next general elections depends largely on how swiftly lawmakers strengthen the legal framework governing elections.
The Electoral Act 2022, which was signed into law in February 2022, presently regulates Nigeria’s electoral process.
An amendment bill has since been introduced to address the deficiencies revealed during the 2023 elections, but progress on the legislation has remained slow at the National Assembly.
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