Prominent figures from Nigeria’s opposition parties converged in Abuja on Thursday for a high-level discussion on the recently amended Electoral Act, highlighting growing discontent with provisions they argue undermine transparent elections as the country prepares for the 2027 polls.
The gathering at the Lagos/Osun Hall of the Transcorp Hilton brought together former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, among others. Organizers indicated that the leaders planned to brief journalists on contentious elements of the Electoral Act amendment, which received assent from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu earlier this month after passage by the National Assembly. Although the law has been signed, opposition voices have emphasized dissatisfaction, particularly advocating for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units to prevent manipulation.
Attendees included former Senate President David Mark, New Nigeria Peoples Party chieftain Buba Galadima, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, Senator Dino Melaye, former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, and former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke. The presence of such a diverse group underscores a rare cross-party alignment on electoral reforms, with participants representing legacies from the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, All Progressives Congress defectors, and smaller opposition outfits.
This meeting reflects ongoing tensions surrounding Nigeria’s electoral framework, which has undergone multiple revisions since the return to civilian rule in 1999. The Electoral Act serves as the primary legislation governing federal, state, and local elections, administered by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Its origins trace back to the post-independence era, with the first modern electoral body, the Federal Electoral Commission, established in 1960 to oversee the 1964 and 1965 polls amid regional rivalries and allegations of rigging. Military interruptions halted progress until the 1979 Constitution introduced the Federal Electoral Commission under Babagana Kingibe, which managed the transition to the Second Republic but faced criticism for inefficiencies.
The Babangida regime’s National Electoral Commission in 1987 marked a turning point, introducing innovations like the open ballot system and conducting the annulled 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as credible until its cancellation sparked national crisis. Under General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the Independent National Electoral Commission was formed in 1998, laying the groundwork for the 1999 elections that ushered in the Fourth Republic. Early Electoral Acts, such as the 2001 version, were plagued by controversies, including clauses allegedly inserted post-passage, leading to its repeal and replacement with the 2002 Act amid debates over voter registration and party funding.
The 2003 elections exposed further flaws, prompting the 2006 Electoral Act, which aimed to curb godfatherism and improve result collation but still resulted in widespread disputes. Post-2007 polls, President Umaru Yar’Adua acknowledged irregularities, establishing the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee, whose recommendations influenced the 2010 Electoral Act and constitutional amendments. This law enhanced INEC’s independence by barring political party members from commission roles and shifting funding to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, while introducing timelines for voter registration and primaries. Subsequent tweaks in 2010, 2011, and 2015 addressed issues like duplicate voter cards and electronic voting prohibitions.
The 2022 Electoral Act represented a milestone, formalizing technologies like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal for public scrutiny of results. It stemmed from post-2019 election reviews, tightening campaign finance rules and litigation timelines. However, ambiguities in result transmission clauses led to court battles during the 2023 cycle, fueling calls for clarity.
The latest amendment, signed on February 18, 2026, includes provisions for optional electronic transmission, stricter voter registration requirements limited to birth certificates, passports, or national IDs, and enhanced penalties for offenses. It also mandates INEC to publish audited accounts within six months and empowers the commission over resident commissioners’ discipline. Yet, critics contend it falls short on mandatory real-time uploads, potentially exposing polls to manual tampering as seen in past elections. The bill’s passage followed heated National Assembly debates, including protests and a disputed voice vote in the House. Proposed in October 2025 as the Electoral Bill 2025, it aimed to repeal the 2022 Act entirely, introducing reforms on prisoner voting, diaspora participation, and party primaries.
Thursday’s meeting, described by participants as a platform to resist implementation through constitutional means, signals potential legal challenges or pushes for further revisions. Parties like the African Democratic Congress and New Nigeria Peoples Party have outright rejected the Act, labeling it a threat to multi-party democracy. As details from the briefing emerge, the discourse could influence INEC’s preparations and public trust in the electoral process.
