The 2026 Electoral Act, which President Bola Tinubu just signed into law, has caused concern among Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo, head of the National Peace Committee Secretariat.
He thinks the statute should have been amended to include provisions such as the removal of a politician’s seat and office upon their departure from the political party to which they were elected.
He went on to say that other parts of the Act, like INEC’s financing, were causing worry for the National Peace Accord Committee. We mandated funding for INEC at least one year before to the elections in the prior statute.
We continue to complain about INEC’s logistical challenges, procurement concerns, and the purchasing of sensitive and non-sensitive goods, but the new Electoral Act 2026 has only been in place for six months.
His statement on Arise News was as follows: “You are providing them money only six months to the elections.”.
And besides, INEC has already submitted his budget, and I get the impression that it is still being discussed, he continued. The election is coming up in a matter of months. In my opinion, that is a major issue.
The political parties’ decision to do away with indirect primaries is another issue. At this point, you can go with direct or consensus, and we find it to be a major issue.
Reason being, political parties serve as the exclusive means of ascending to power in our nation right now. Accordingly, we will elect to office whoever they choose for us.
Thus, they are now requesting that they hold primaries without parties. However, there is a catch: primaries are required to start by April 23rd. Members are also required to create an electronic voter registration that includes their ward, name, number, birth certificate, polling unit, and other personal information.
You can’t vote or be voted for if you aren’t a registered member of that political party, and it will be very difficult for certain parties to meet those expectations.
We had anticipated that the legislation would additionally provide that a defection would result in the forfeiture of one’s seat, which would then be officially declared empty. Subsequently, a fresh election would be scheduled within a few days or months.
“So I believe these are some of the difficulties within the act that we are sincerely urging the politicians to resolve.”