Former INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega Calls For Urgent Electoral

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, has called for urgent amendments to the 2026 Electoral Act, warning that some provisions in the law could weaken electoral integrity if not reviewed before the 2027 general elections.

Jega made the call in Abuja while presenting a paper titled “Some Reflections on the 2026 Electoral Act and Nigeria’s Electoral Democracy.” He acknowledged that the Act contains important reforms but said certain sections require adjustments to remove loopholes and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process.

Key Highlights:

• Attahiru Jega called for amendments to the 2026 Electoral Act.
• He warned some provisions could undermine the 2027 elections.
• Jega raised concerns over electronic transmission of results.
• He proposed broader reforms to strengthen INEC and political parties.
• He urged stakeholders to prioritise credible electoral reforms.

Among the provisions he flagged were Section 60(3), which deals with electronic transmission of election results; Section 83(5), which restricts court intervention in political party affairs; and Section 138(1), which removes qualification issues as grounds for challenging election results.

On electronic transmission of results, Jega expressed concern over the provision that allows the manual result sheet, Form EC8A, to become the main collation document when electronic transmission fails.

He argued that given Nigeria’s political environment, such a clause could be exploited by politicians seeking to manipulate election outcomes.

“Given what we know about the Nigerian environment and the desperation of the ‘do-or-die’ politicians, there shouldn’t be such a vague provision, which would be used to truncate electronic transmission in favour of manual transmission of results,” he said.

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The former INEC chairman also questioned the heavy reliance on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) during transmission challenges, stating that the public portal was created mainly for transparency and viewing purposes, while final result declarations should rely on more secure backend systems.

Jega further criticised the restriction placed on courts from intervening in political party matters, describing it as too broad and warning that the judiciary should still be able to protect constitutional rights and the rule of law.

He also opposed the removal of candidate qualification as a basis for challenging election outcomes, noting that the Nigerian Constitution sets minimum requirements for individuals seeking elective positions.

According to him, removing such provisions could create room for candidates with questionable qualifications to escape legal scrutiny.

Beyond the 2027 elections, Jega recommended wider electoral reforms, including changing the appointment process for INEC leadership to reduce the influence of the presidency.

He also suggested separating some of INEC’s responsibilities — such as prosecuting electoral offenders, regulating political parties, and constituency delimitation — and assigning them to independent bodies so the commission can focus mainly on conducting elections.

The former INEC boss called for stricter requirements for political parties, reduced campaign spending limits, and reforms aimed at reducing the monetisation of politics.

He urged lawmakers and stakeholders to ensure electoral reforms are based on broad consultations and focused on improving democratic stability.

Jega also raised concerns over alleged judicial misconduct, warning that actions by some judges could damage public confidence in the electoral system.

He concluded that while strong electoral laws are necessary, credible elections also require responsible political leadership, active citizen participation, and effective institutions.