Former vice-president Atiku Abubakar has asked the national assembly to amend the Electoral Act, warning that a provision allowing the acceptance of unauthorised ballot papers could undermine Nigeria’s elections.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, his senior special assistant on public communication, Abubakar faulted Section 63 of the Act, describing it as a “grave and dangerous ambiguity”.
He argued that the provision, which allows ballot papers without official marks to be counted at the discretion of a returning officer, poses a serious threat to electoral integrity.
“This is not a minor technical issue—it is a direct threat to electoral integrity,” the statement read.
Atiku warned that leaving such decisions to subjective judgment creates room for manipulation and disputes.
“A democracy cannot survive on ambiguity. A ballot must either meet the standard or it does not,” he added.
He acknowledged that the provision may have been introduced to prevent voter disenfranchisement but insisted that its current form could erode public trust in the electoral process.
“At a time when Nigerians are demanding transparency and credibility, it is reckless to retain a clause that weakens confidence in the very foundation of democracy,” he noted.
The former vice-president said the provision reflects a loophole carried over from previous electoral laws without adequate safeguards.
He urged lawmakers to urgently amend the Act to eliminate discretion in ballot validation and establish clear, non-negotiable standards.
“The leadership of the National Assembly should have been more cautious than casual in handling provisions that touch the very heart of our democracy,” he said.
Atiku also called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure thorough scrutiny of critical legislation before signing it into law.
BACKGROUND
Mike Igini, former resident electoral commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akwa Ibom state, had earlier raised concerns about the Electoral Act.
Speaking on Prime Time on Arise TV, Igini described some provisions in the law as “dangerous”.
He specifically pointed to Section 63, which he said allows presiding officers to accept ballot papers that do not carry INEC’s official security features.
According to him, the provision gives electoral officers wide discretion to determine the validity of such ballots, a situation he warned could be exploited to compromise elections.
