Atiku urges review of electoral act over ballot clause concerns
Atiku Abubakar has called on the National Assembly to urgently review the Electoral Act, citing concerns about a clause that could affect the credibility of elections. He specifically criticized Section 63, which allows ballot papers without an official mark to be counted at the discretion of returning officers. Atiku Abubakar warned that this provision could open the door to manipulation and undermine the integrity of the electoral process. He also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission and the international community to pay close attention to Nigeria’s electoral legal framework.
Key takeaways
- Atiku Abubakar faulted Section 63 of the Electoral Act, saying it allows for subjective judgment in counting ballot papers.
- He argued that leaving such decisions to discretion could compromise the credibility of elections.
- Atiku Abubakar called on the National Assembly to revisit the law and for the Independent National Electoral Commission to strengthen its guidelines.
- He urged the international community and election observers to monitor Nigeria’s electoral legal framework closely.
- Atiku Abubakar stated that the President, Bola Tinubu, has a responsibility to scrutinize critical legislation before signing.
