By Peace Erewunmi

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, has called for an urgent review of key provisions in Nigeria’s 2026 Electoral Act, warning that certain clauses could undermine the credibility and transparency of future elections if left unaddressed.

Jega made the remarks while presenting a paper titled “Some Reflections on the 2026 Electoral Act and Nigeria’s Electoral Democracy” at a public event in Abuja. While acknowledging that the legislation introduced several reforms aimed at improving election management, he argued that it still contains “issues of serious concern” and ambiguous provisions that require immediate attention.

One of the major concerns raised by the former electoral umpire relates to Section 60(3), which addresses the electronic transmission of election results. According to Jega, although the law makes electronic transmission mandatory, the provision allowing a return to manual collation when electronic transmission fails could create opportunities for manipulation. He warned that desperate politicians may exploit such loopholes to bypass more transparent digital processes.

Jega also cautioned against excessive reliance on data displayed on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) for resolving disputes arising from transmission failures. He argued that more secure backend databases should be relied upon when determining authentic election results.

Another issue highlighted by Jega concerns Section 138(1) of the Act, which reportedly removes candidate qualification as a basis for challenging election outcomes after polls have been conducted. He maintained that candidate qualifications remain a constitutional requirement and should continue to be subject to scrutiny through legal processes where necessary.

The former INEC chairman further expressed reservations about provisions limiting judicial intervention in certain internal political party matters, arguing that courts should retain the ability to address constitutional violations and serious breaches of electoral regulations.

Jega emphasized that his criticism should not be interpreted as opposition to the Electoral Act itself. Rather, he described his observations as constructive recommendations intended to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process and prevent avoidable controversies ahead of future elections.

Political analysts say the concerns raised by Jega are likely to reignite discussions on electoral reforms, result transmission, judicial oversight, and measures needed to improve public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system as preparations gradually begin for future elections.