Yoruba Ronu Critiques N'Assembly on Election Law Changes

The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum has condemned the Nigerian National Assembly for omitting certificate forgery as a valid ground for election petitions in the amended Electoral Act 2026. In a statement issued by the forum's president, Akin Malaolu, they criticized Section 138(1) of the amended act, which allows election challenges only on grounds of corrupt practices or non-compliance with the provisions of the act.

The forum expressed concern that this omission represents a significant departure from previous electoral frameworks, where certificate forgery was recognized as a valid ground for contesting elections. Malaolu accused lawmakers of being sympathetic to criminal acts related to forgery, which could encourage fraud and misrepresentation in the educational system, thereby eroding societal values.

The forum urged the federal government to release the full details of the law and recommended amendments to ensure that individuals with proven qualifications are not excluded from seeking electoral office. They warned that failing to address these issues could undermine Nigeria's democratic institutions.