Atiku Abubakar Calls for Urgent Electoral Act Amendments

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria, has issued a stern warning to the National Assembly regarding a dangerous loophole in the Electoral Act. He specifically points to Section 63, which allows ballot papers to be counted without official marks, describing this as a significant threat to electoral integrity.

Atiku emphasizes that this ambiguity could lead to manipulation and disputes, ultimately compromising democracy. He calls for immediate amendments to the Electoral Act to establish clear standards for valid ballots and protect the sanctity of every vote.

Furthermore, he urges the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to tighten its operational guidelines to prevent any subjective judgments from electoral officials. Atiku expresses disappointment that such provisions have persisted through multiple legislative revisions and stresses the need for lawmakers to exercise greater diligence in safeguarding electoral processes.

He concludes by stating that Nigeria cannot afford any loopholes that could undermine public confidence in its electoral system.