Atiku blames Electoral Act loopholes for 2023 poll flaws, urges Senate to amend law before 2027

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted the conduct of the 2023 general election, blaming major irregularities on what he described as loopholes in the Electoral Act 2022.

Atiku made this known in a statement issued on Thursday, January 22, 2026, saying the weaknesses in the current electoral law made it possible for widespread rigging and also created obstacles for petitioners seeking justice through the courts.

The former vice president said correcting the mistakes of the 2023 election requires an urgent review of the legal framework governing Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election accused the Senate of deliberately frustrating efforts to amend the Electoral Act, insisting that such delays pose a serious threat to the credibility of future polls.

Atiku stated: “A major setback to the 2023 elections is the loopholes in the Electoral Act 2022 that paved the way for the brazen rigging of that election, and the near-impossibility of petitioners to advance their cases in the courts.

“It is imperative that if the mistakes of the 2023 election are to be corrected, the legal instrument for the conduct of the 2027 and subsequent future elections needs to be reviewed.

“But as things stand, it has become obvious that the Senate is determined to frustrate the passage of amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act.

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“The recent report by FIJ serves as both an indictment of the Senate and a timely call for legislative responsibility.”

He stressed that the integrity of the 2027 election depends largely on how quickly lawmakers act on the proposed amendments, warning that failure to do so could amount to an attempt to compromise the electoral process long before voting begins.

Atiku therefore called on the Senate to conclude work on the amendments and ensure the revised law is in place to guide the conduct of the 2027 election.

He added: “The credibility of the 2027 general elections hinges on the urgency with which the Senate treats this crucial bill.

“It is, therefore, imperative that the Senate finalises the amendments and ensures the updated law governs the conduct of the 2027 elections. Anything short of this is a deliberate attempt to rig the election long before the ballots are cast.”

The Star