A coalition of civil society organisations, including The Kukah Centre and Yiaga Africa, on Thursday criticised President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026, describing it as “a missed opportunity for transformative electoral reform.”
The coalition made its position known at a press conference in Abuja, organised in collaboration with the International Press Centre, TAF Africa, Centre for Media and Society, Nigerian Women Trust Fund and ElectHER.
Addressing journalists on behalf of the coalition, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, argued that the speed and opacity of the legislative process undermined public confidence in the reform.
“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,” Epelle said.
He maintained that while reforms to Nigeria’s electoral framework are necessary to strengthen democracy, the manner in which the bill was processed did not allow for adequate public consultation or robust stakeholder engagement.
According to the coalition, electoral reform must be participatory, transparent and inclusive, especially given its far-reaching implications for governance and representation. They expressed concern that key recommendations from civil society and election observers were either overlooked or insufficiently addressed in the final version of the law.
The groups called on relevant institutions to ensure that the implementation of the Electoral Act 2026 prioritises transparency, inclusiveness and accountability to restore public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.
