Atiku Demands Urgent Amendment of Electoral Act, Flags Section 63 Loophole

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the National Assembly to urgently amend Section 63 of the Electoral Act, warning that a provision allowing unverified ballot papers to be counted at a returning officer’s discretion could undermine the 2027 elections.

Atiku, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, raised the concerns in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu. He said the section permits a ballot paper without an official mark to be counted based on a returning officer’s personal judgment rather than a verifiable standard.

“The leadership of the National Assembly should have been more cautious than casual in handling provisions that touch the very heart of our democracy,” Atiku said. “A ballot paper is not an ordinary piece of paper — it is a legal instrument whose authenticity is central to the credibility of the entire electoral process.”

Atiku warns of manipulation risk

Atiku said any legal provision that allows discretion in validating ballot papers creates a loophole that could be exploited to compromise election results. He called the clause a direct threat to electoral integrity.

“A democracy cannot survive on ambiguity. A ballot must either meet the standard or it does not. The moment you leave such a critical decision to subjective judgment, you invite manipulation, dispute, and ultimately, chaos,” he added.

The former VP also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to tighten its operational guidelines so electoral officers are not placed in situations where personal judgment overrides verifiable standards.

President Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law on February 18, a day after it was passed by the National Assembly. Atiku noted that the controversial clause was carried over from previous electoral frameworks without sufficient safeguards.

He urged the international community, election observers, and democratic partners to keep a close watch on Nigeria’s electoral legal framework, saying the credibility of future elections depends as much on the law as on the process.

Sources: Punch Newspapers, The Authority, Daily Report Nigeria, Politics Nigeria