Atiku Abubakar Calls for Amendments to Electoral Act

On Wednesday, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called on the National Assembly to urgently revisit Section 63 of the Electoral Act, warning that its current provisions could undermine the credibility of elections if left unchecked. In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Frank Shaibu, Atiku criticized the section for allowing ballot papers without official marks to be counted at the discretion of election officials, creating potential loopholes for manipulation.

He emphasized that the integrity of the electoral process is paramount and that the current law lacks sufficient safeguards. Atiku noted that this controversial clause is not new and carries over from previous electoral frameworks.

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to tighten operational guidelines to prevent situations where personal judgment could override verification standards. Atiku also called on international electoral observers to monitor Nigeria's electoral legal framework closely, highlighting that the credibility of future elections depends on the integrity of the law.

He referenced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's signing of the Electoral Act amendment on February 18, 2023.