Political Scientist Warns Nigeria’s New Electoral Law Still Plagued by Loopholes, Risks Undermining Democracy

A prominent scholar and former electoral commissioner, Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu, has cautioned that Nigeria’s newly amended electoral framework continues to suffer from critical gaps that could derail efforts to strengthen democratic governance. Speaking during a Citizens’ Townhall on electoral reforms in Abuja, the political scientist urged citizens to look beyond legislation and take more responsibility for defending the integrity of the electoral process.

Delivering the keynote address at the policy dialogue, Ibeanu argued that Nigerians place too much trust in the law as a cure-all for electoral deficiencies. He stressed that constant amendments—often spearheaded by politicians who are themselves regulated by the same laws—risk weakening, rather than reinforcing, democratic institutions.

“I think there are still gaps and loopholes in the law,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that it took us debating about a proviso for the country to realise that electronic transmission was already in the 2022 Act. What we have done now actually takes us back to the debates of 2018.”

He criticised what he described as Nigeria’s unhealthy culture of repeatedly repealing and re-enacting electoral laws, warning that excessive tinkering can transform reforms into political tools. “Amendment and repeal of the law should be its medicine, not its daily bread,” he noted, cautioning that recurrent changes may create provisions tailored to serve partisan interests rather than protecting voters.

Ibeanu also warned against granting the Independent National Electoral Commission unchecked regulatory power over political parties, saying that doing so could evoke a “military regime spectre” and undermine democratic freedoms if not carefully balanced.

Emphasising civic participation, the former national commissioner insisted that the survival of Nigeria’s democracy lies primarily in the hands of its citizens. “Citizens, this is about you. It is not about politicians; it is not about INEC. Unless citizens protect their votes and control those who represent them, our dream of a truly democratic country will remain an illusion,” he declared.

He urged a thorough review of specific provisions in the Electoral Act, including Sections 50, 60 and 62, calling on INEC to issue clearer regulations and guidelines to eliminate ambiguities that often cause disputes during elections.

Nigeria’s electoral landscape was recently reshaped after President Bola Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 into law on February 18, replacing the 2022 legislation ahead of the 2027 general elections. The amended law mandates electronic transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, formally recognises the BVAS accreditation system, adjusts timelines for notices and candidate nominations, and restructures primary election procedures.

While the reforms are intended to improve transparency and efficiency, civil society groups and opposition parties have expressed concerns that the law still grants broad discretion to electoral officers during technical failures—an issue they say could undermine accountability.

Professor Ibeanu’s warning adds to the growing debate over whether legal reforms alone can guarantee credible elections or whether Nigeria must undertake deeper institutional and civic transformation to secure its democratic future.