The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has warned that certain provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 could weaken key electoral reforms, undermine public trust in elections, and negatively affect the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
The warning was issued during a civil society stakeholders’ meeting held on Wednesday, June 11, 2026, convened in Abuja by CISLAC in partnership with the Pan African Strategic and Policy Research Group (PANAFSTRAG), to review the implications of the new electoral law.
Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), said the meeting was part of sustained civil society engagement aimed at strengthening electoral integrity and ensuring that reforms reflect the will of citizens rather than political convenience.
He stressed that democracy is sustained not only by elections but by the integrity of the laws governing them, warning that controversial provisions in the Electoral Act 2026 must be critically examined ahead of 2027.
Rafsanjani said civil society organisations had consistently engaged electoral reforms over time and would continue to advocate for laws that guarantee transparency, inclusivity and fairness in Nigeria’s electoral process.
He noted that provisions relating to result transmission, political party regulation, election petitions and technology in accreditation had generated widespread concern and required urgent review.
The meeting featured a detailed legal presentation by former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Mike Igini, who warned that several provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 represent a reversal of gains made in electoral reforms since 2010.
Igini recalled that reforms under the Electoral Act 2022, particularly Sections 47 and 60, provided legal backing for the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), which significantly improved transparency and reduced electoral malpractice.
He explained that BVAS helped eliminate voter impersonation, ballot stuffing and multiple voting, while IReV enabled real-time public access to polling unit results, strengthening transparency and trust in the electoral process.
However, he said the 2023 general elections exposed weaknesses in the inconsistent application of result transmission technology, particularly the failure to upload presidential election results to IReV in real time, which created a national trust deficit.
According to him, the Electoral Act 2026 introduces provisions that may weaken the mandatory nature of electronic result transmission.
He cited Section 60(3), which, while retaining electronic transmission, introduces a proviso that makes Form EC8A the primary basis of collation and declaration, thereby creating what he described as a derogation from the intent of electronic transparency.
Igini further warned that Section 63(2) and Section 65 limit safeguards against irregular ballot validation and restrict INEC’s power to review questionable declarations, potentially weakening post-election accountability mechanisms.
He also raised concerns over Section 77, which shortens timelines for political party compliance and introduces penalties that may bar parties from presenting candidates for failure to submit membership registers, describing the provision as potentially restrictive and unconstitutional in light of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution on freedom of association.
The legal expert further noted that Section 137 removes the ability to join electoral officers in election petition proceedings, placing full responsibility on INEC to defend them, while also repealing provisions that previously allowed documentary evidence alone to prove non-compliance.
He expressed concern that Section 138(2) weakens enforceability of INEC directives by stating that violations of Commission instructions cannot, on their own, invalidate an election.
Igini warned that collectively, these provisions could reduce institutional accountability, weaken enforcement of electoral guidelines, and undermine the credibility of future elections if not reviewed.
He urged civil society organisations to engage the National Assembly for urgent amendments to key sections of the law and called for stronger protection of BVAS and IReV as core electoral instruments.
Both speakers emphasized the importance of off-cycle elections as a testing ground to reinforce public confidence in electoral technology and procedures ahead of 2027.
They also called for transparent recruitment of ad hoc staff, improved communication by INEC during election processes, and swift sanctions against electoral malpractice.
Rafsanjani stressed that civil society must continue to serve as a watchdog for democratic accountability, insisting that electoral laws must empower citizens rather than restrict participation.
The meeting concluded with a joint call for reforms that strengthen transparency, restore public trust in electoral processes, and ensure that the 2027 elections reflect the true will of the Nigerian people.
