By Obinna Uballa
The Kukah Centre, Yiaga Africa and a coalition of civil society organisations have criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the Electoral Act 2026, describing it as a missed opportunity for genuine and transformative electoral reform.
The groups voiced their concerns on Thursday at a press conference in Abuja convened in partnership with the International Press Centre, TAF Africa, Centre for Media and Society, Nigerian Women Trust Fund and Elect Her.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, faulted both the legislative process and the presidential assent, arguing that the speed and lack of transparency surrounding the bill’s passage undermined public trust.
“The civil society organisations acknowledge the passage of the Electoral Bill 2026 by the National Assembly and the presidential assent that followed,” Epelle said. “However, the process fell short of democratic standards. The speed and opacity raise serious concerns about legislative transparency and the commitment of lawmakers to genuine electoral reform.”
He warned that granting assent without addressing key legal, technical and democratic concerns raised by stakeholders sets what he described as a dangerous precedent.
“Such an approach risks eroding public trust at a time when confidence in the electoral system remains fragile,” he added.
The coalition also condemned the introduction of a N50 million administrative fee for new political party registration under Section 75(6) of the Act, describing it as a deliberate barrier to entry.
According to Epelle, the provision amounts to “a financial moat designed to exclude grassroots movements, youth-led parties and non-elite political formations from formal political competition.”
On the conduct of party primaries, the groups argued that limiting nomination methods to direct primaries or consensus reduces flexibility and could heighten the risk of manipulation and vote-buying within parties.
Despite their criticisms, the coalition called for immediate steps to enhance transparency and clarity. They urged the National Assembly to publish the final assented version of the Electoral Act to ensure public awareness and informed stakeholder engagement.
The groups also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release a revised timetable for the 2027 general elections in line with the new 300-day notice requirement, issue detailed regulations to clarify ambiguous provisions and conduct nationwide simulations of electronic transmission across all polling units.
While expressing deep reservations about the law, the coalition affirmed its commitment to continued civic engagement and monitoring of the Act’s implementation ahead of the next general election.
