2027 Election Under Threat? Minority Leader Sounds Alarm on Polls Integrity

Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki, has expressed profound concerns regarding specific provisions within the Electoral Act, 2026, which he believes pose a significant threat to the integrity of the upcoming 2027 general election. Raising a matter of privilege before the House, Dasuki articulated that he and other members had previously submitted motions aimed at addressing these critical issues and compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide a comprehensive briefing on its preparedness for the polls scheduled for next year. However, he lamented that these crucial legislative instruments had inexplicably remained unlisted for consideration for several months.

Dasuki specifically highlighted what he described as a concerning loophole in Section 63, Subsection, of the Electoral Act, 2026. According to the lawmaker, this particular provision effectively grants a polling unit officer or a presiding officer the discretionary power to accept ballot papers or any other electoral document that lacks the essential security features or official marks of INEC. To illustrate the gravity of this flaw, Dasuki drew a stark analogy, comparing it to accepting counterfeit money in a bank, implying that such a provision could easily facilitate electoral fraud and compromise the authenticity of the election results.

The Deputy Minority Leader also detailed the timeline of their attempts to bring this matter to the House's attention. He mentioned that a motion co-authored by himself and the Chief Whip of the House was signed by the Speaker on July 22, 2026, and subsequently forwarded to the Rules and Business Committee. Despite their expectations for a swift presentation, particularly given established parliamentary practices for leadership-backed motions, it remained unlisted. He further pointed out the delay of Bill 2781, which he co-sponsored with the minority leaders, noting that other bills had progressed while theirs, specifically concerning the integrity of the 2026 election and an examination of Section 88, Subsection 2 of the Constitution, languished.

Beyond the contentious provisions of the Electoral Act, Dasuki underscored anxieties surrounding INEC's overall readiness, especially concerning funding and the pervasive security challenges facing the nation. He urged against a potential 30% reduction in INEC's budget, advocating instead for the INEC Chairman to appear before the House to clarify the commission's state of preparedness. Dasuki emphasized the constitutional mandate of the House to scrutinize INEC's readiness, asserting the necessity of proactive oversight rather than waiting until the eleventh hour before the election to address potential shortcomings. He passionately pleaded with Speaker Abbas Tajudeen to exercise his wisdom and ensure that these vital bills and motions are promptly brought to the floor for debate, highlighting the significant delay of Bill 2781 compared to others.

In response to Dasuki's privilege motion, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen acknowledged the gravity of the issues raised and committed to investigating the matter. While assuring the House that there was