Civil Society Groups Raise Concerns Over Provisions in 2026 Electoral Act

A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), including the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre, ElectHer, Nigeria Women Trust Fund, TAF Africa, and Yiaga Africa, has identified what they term "dangerous loopholes" within the recently ratified Electoral Bill of 2026. These organizations expressed their disappointment at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, asserting that the bill failed to address critical shortcomings.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially signed the 2026 Electoral Act into law on Wednesday, proceeding despite opposition from civil society groups and some political parties. Earlier, on Tuesday, several members of the House of Representatives had staged a walkout during plenary sessions in protest against the bill's advancement.

The CSOs argued that the enacted legislation contains substantial deficiencies that could undermine the fairness and transparency of elections. They pointed to several areas where the bill fell short of expectations, including the provisions for electronic transmission of election results, restrictions on reporting to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials to initiate reviews of election outcomes, a N50 million administrative fee stipulated for new political parties, and the stipulated methods for party primaries.

Despite these concerns, the CSOs stated their commitment to closely monitor the implementation of the act leading up to the 2027 general elections. They criticized the presidency's decision to assent to the bill, suggesting it prioritizes political convenience over the crucial need for electoral integrity.

"The Presidency's decision to grant assent without addressing the substantive legal, technical, and democratic concerns raised by civil society, professional bodies, and even some members of the National Assembly signals a troubling prioritization of political expediency over electoral integrity," the CSOs stated. "Electoral reform should be guided by broad consultation and consensus, not compressed timelines and executive finality."

They further cautioned that such an approach risks eroding public trust, especially at a time when confidence in the electoral system is already fragile and requires deliberate strengthening. "Such an approach risks eroding public trust at a time when confidence in the electoral system remains fragile and must be deliberately strengthened, not casually tested," they added.

Additionally, the organizations highlighted that the decision by both legislative chambers to proceed with a conference committee for the bill without publicly disseminating last-minute amendments fundamentally contravenes the principle of informed legislative consent and weakens parliamentary accountability.