A recent amendment to the Electoral Act 2026 that removes certificate forgery as a valid ground for filing election petitions has raised concerns about transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Dengiyefa Angalapu, a research analyst with the Centre for Democracy and Development, warned in an exclusive interview on Tuesday that the change could undermine mechanisms used to scrutinise candidates and uphold electoral integrity.
Under Section 138 of the Electoral Act 2026, conditions for contesting elections are outlined, but the amended provision no longer lists certificate forgery as a ground for challenging election outcomes. Angalapu described the development as troubling, noting that election credibility depends not only on how votes are cast but also on the integrity of candidates.
“Certificate forgery goes directly to the issue of honesty and eligibility for public office,” he said. “Removing it as a ground for election petitions risks weakening an important mechanism for scrutinizing candidates and ensuring transparency in Nigeria’s electoral process.”
He added that election petitions are a vital avenue for citizens and political actors to challenge irregularities, and the amendment could reduce accountability in the political system. “If issues like certificate forgery cannot be raised in that process, it may reduce scrutiny over candidates’ claims and qualifications,” Angalapu said.
The analyst further warned that the long-term implications could include diminished public confidence in Nigeria’s elections. “In the long run, this could erode trust in the electoral system if people feel that standards for those seeking public office are being lowered,” he added.
Experts now call on lawmakers and electoral stakeholders to ensure that reforms strengthen rather than weaken transparency and integrity in Nigeria’s democratic process.
