Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Senate of deliberately stalling efforts to amend the Electoral Act 2022, warning that the failure to reform the law could severely damage the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
In a post on his verified X handle, Atiku described the 2023 general elections as a “major setback,” attributing the outcome to loopholes in the Electoral Act 2022, which he said enabled widespread electoral manipulation and made it extremely difficult for petitioners to successfully pursue election cases in court.
He argued that only a comprehensive review of the legal framework guiding elections can prevent a recurrence of the shortcomings experienced in 2023.
“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, Atiku expressed worry that the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, is not showing the urgency required to pass the proposed amendments.
“But as things stand, it has become obvious that the Senate is determined to frustrate the passage of amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act,” he said.
He also cited a recent investigative report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), describing it as an indictment of the Senate and a reminder of the need for urgent legislative action.
“The credibility of the 2027 general elections hinges on the urgency with which the Senate treats this crucial bill,” Atiku warned.
The former presidential candidate stressed that the amended Electoral Act must be concluded and implemented well ahead of the 2027 polls, insisting that any delay would amount to an intentional effort to undermine the process.
“Anything short of this is a deliberate attempt to rig the election long before the ballots are cast,” he added.