Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has warned that the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections could be seriously undermined if urgent amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 are not concluded in good time.

In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku described the 2023 general elections as a major setback to Nigeria’s democracy, blaming existing loopholes in the Electoral Act, for widespread electoral malpractices and the difficulty faced by petitioners who sought for justice in the courts.

“A major setback to the 2023 elections is the loopholes in the Electoral Act 2022 that paved the way for the brazen rigging of that election, and the near-impossibility of petitioners to advance their cases in the courts,” Atiku said.

He stressed that meaningful reform is unavoidable if the country hopes to avoid a repeat of the challenges that marred the last polls. 

According to him, the legal framework guiding elections must be reviewed to guarantee transparency and fairness in future contests.

“It is imperative that if the mistakes of the 2023 election are to be corrected, the legal instrument for the conduct of the 2027 and subsequent future elections needs to be reviewed,” he stated.

However, the former vice president expressed concern that the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, appears unwilling to fast-track the amendment process. 

He accused the Senate of deliberately stalling the bill meant to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process.

“But as things stand, it has become obvious that the Senate is determined to frustrate the passage of amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act,” Atiku said.

He also referenced a recent report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), describing it as a strong indictment of the legislature and a reminder of its constitutional duty.

“The recent report by FIJ serves as both an indictment of the Senate and a timely call for legislative responsibility,” he noted.

Atiku warned that delays in passing the amendments could have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s democracy, insisting that time is of the essence.

“The credibility of the 2027 general elections hinges on the urgency with which the Senate treats this crucial bill,” he said.

He urged the lawmakers to act decisively, warning that failure to do so would amount to premeditated electoral manipulation.

“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,” Atiku added.