A coalition of civil society organisations has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the Electoral Act 2026, describing the development as a missed opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process.
The coalition — comprising the The Kukah Centre, Yiaga Africa, TAF Africa, International Press Centre, Centre for Media and Society, Nigerian Women Trust Fund and Elect Her — made its position known at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Addressing journalists on behalf of the coalition, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, said the speed and opacity surrounding the legislative process undermined public confidence in the reform.
According to him, while civil society acknowledges the passage of the Electoral Bill 2026 by the National Assembly and the subsequent presidential assent, 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,” Epelle said. “The decision of the Presidency to grant assent without addressing the substantive legal, technical and democratic concerns raised by civil society sets a dangerous precedent.”
He warned
that such an approach could erode public trust in the electoral system at a time when confidence remains fragile.A major point of contention for the coalition is the ₦50 million administrative fee for the registration of new political parties under Section 75(6) of the Act. Epelle described the fee as “a financial moat” designed to exclude grassroots movements, youth-led parties and non-elite political formations from participating in the political process.
The coalition also faulted provisions on party primaries, arguing that restricting nomination methods to either direct primaries or consensus could limit flexibility and increase the risk of vote-buying and manipulation.
Despite their reservations, the groups called on the National Assembly to immediately publish the final version of the assented Act to ensure public awareness and legal clarity.
They also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to release a revised timetable for the 2027 general elections in line with the new 300-day notice requirement. In addition, the commission was asked to issue comprehensive regulations to clarify ambiguous provisions and conduct a nationwide simulation of electronic transmission across polling units.
The coalition, however, reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring the implementation of the law and engaging stakeholders ahead of the next general election.
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