Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria — Civil society organisations in Nigeria have criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to sign the Electoral Act 2026 into law, arguing that the process leading to its approval did not meet democratic expectations.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is Nigeria’s current head of state and government. The Electoral Act is the country’s primary legislation governing how elections are conducted, including voter registration, political party regulation, and the conduct of national and state polls.
The criticism was expressed at a press conference held in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria, by a coalition that included the Kukah Centre, a Nigerian policy and advocacy organisation founded by Catholic Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; Yiaga Africa, a civic group focused on electoral reform and democratic governance; and several other civil society organisations.
The event was organised in collaboration with the International Press Centre, a Nigerian media advocacy organisation; The Albino Foundation Africa, also known as TAF Africa, which advocates for persons with disabilities; the Centre for Media and Society; the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, which promotes women’s political participation; and Elect Her.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Jake Epelle, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, said the organisations recognised that Nigeria’s National Assembly had passed the Electoral Bill 2026 and that the President had subsequently granted assent. However, he warned that the manner in which the law was enacted raised serious concerns.
He said, “The civil society organisations acknowledge the passage of the Electoral Bill 2026 by the National Assembly and the presidential assent that followed, but warn that 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.
“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. Such an approach risks eroding public trust at a time when confidence in the electoral system remains fragile.”
Okay News reports that the Electoral Act 2026 will shape preparations for Nigeria’s next general elections scheduled for 2027, making the debate over its provisions particularly significant for political parties, voters, and election administrators.
One of the coalition’s key objections relates to a ₦50 million (about $33,000) administrative fee for the registration of new political parties, as provided under Section 75(6) of the Act. On first mention in this report, the naira is Nigeria’s national currency.
Epelle described the fee as “a financial moat designed to exclude grassroots movements, youth-led parties, and non-elite political formations from formal competition.”
The coalition also raised concerns about provisions governing party primaries, the internal processes through which political parties select their candidates. According to the group, limiting nomination methods to direct primaries or consensus arrangements reduces flexibility and could increase the risk of vote-buying and manipulation.
Despite their criticism, the organisations called on Nigeria’s National Assembly, the country’s federal legislature, to make the final signed version of the Electoral Act publicly available. They said this would ensure public awareness, legal clarity, and meaningful stakeholder engagement.
“The civil society organisations call on the National Assembly to immediately publish the final version of the Electoral Act 2026 as signed into law to ensure public awareness, legal clarity, and stakeholder engagement.
“We also urge INEC to urgently release a revised timetable for the 2027 general elections in line with the new 300-day notice requirement, issue comprehensive regulations to clarify ambiguous provisions, and conduct a nationwide simulation of electronic transmission across all polling units,” Epelle added.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, commonly known as INEC, is Nigeria’s constitutionally mandated body responsible for organising and supervising elections at the federal and state levels.
The coalition said that although it disagreed with aspects of the law and the legislative process, civil society groups would continue to monitor its implementation ahead of the 2027 general elections. The coming months are expected to determine how the new legal framework will shape Nigeria’s electoral landscape.
