Abuja, Nigeria – A coalition of leading civil society organisations (CSOs) has sharply criticised the recently signed Electoral Act 2026, describing it as a missed opportunity to introduce far-reaching reforms capable of strengthening public trust ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The coalition, including the Centre for Media and Society, The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC), ElectHer, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, TAF Africa, and Yiaga Africa, raised concerns over the bill’s expedited passage and last-minute amendments, which they claim were inserted without adequate publication or public scrutiny.
Addressing journalists at a joint press briefing, TAF Africa President Jake Epelle, speaking on behalf of the coalition, said the law preserves some provisions from the 2022 framework but leaves critical loopholes unaddressed and introduces new barriers to political participation.
“The speed and opacity of the legislative process raise serious questions about transparency and accountability,” the communique stated. “At a time when public confidence in elections is fragile, the law should have strengthened transparency, eliminated ambiguities, and deepened safeguards against manipulation. Instead, it creates more vulnerabilities in the electoral process.”
The CSOs argued that President Bola Tinubu’s assent, signed on Wednesday, signals political expediency over electoral integrity and risks entrenching incumbency advantage while excluding millions of Nigerians from meaningful participation. They stressed that their concerns were non-partisan and grounded in legal precedent, technical feasibility, and the imperative to safeguard electoral credibility.
Key recommendations from the coalition include:
- Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must publish a revised timetable for the 2027 elections.
- Issuance of clear regulations under the new law, including definitions for IReV “communication failure,” standards for monitoring political party primaries, and disability-inclusive voter registration procedures.
- Conducting a national simulation of electronic results transmission across all 176,866 polling units, with independent observers, and publishing a detailed technical report on connectivity gaps, failures, and remediation plans.
- Political parties must publicly commit to supporting electronic results transmission, and the National Assembly should immediately publish the signed law for public access.
In response, House of Representatives spokesperson Akin Rotimi defended the legislature’s actions, insisting due process was followed in accordance with committee rules. He described the amendments as historic and noted that protests and walkouts are normal legislative occurrences, not indicative of malpractice.
The confrontation highlights growing tensions between civil society, lawmakers, and the presidency over electoral reform, underscoring the urgency for transparent and inclusive measures to ensure public confidence in Nigeria’s 2027 elections.
