Electoral reform: INEC boss calls for simple language election legislation

By Mariam Abeeb

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has called for adoption of simple, clear language in election legislation to guarantee transparency and public understanding.
He made this known at a Citizens’ Town Hall Meeting titled; “What It Means for Your Vote and the 2027 Elections,” organised by the Civil Society Network on Electoral Integrity, in Abuja.
Amupitan who represented Nigeria at an international conference on electoral integrity, recalled facing criticism about Nigeria’s governance and fraud issues.
“You have gone through the electoral acts from the beginning to the end, and we have looked at some of the contentious area, especially in a country that is highly diverse, and then the landscape of the political landscape and the electoral landscape of Nigeria is very, very virulent.
“So therefore what Nigeria needs is actually what I call a simple legislation, a simple language legislation whereby it will be possible for every Nigerian to understand and appreciate the provisions of every section, he said.
He has assured Nigerians that the 2027 general elections will be the most credible in the country’s history, driven by sweeping reforms introduced by the newly signed Electoral Act 2026.
He described the new law as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s democratic process, saying it strengthens transparency, restores public confidence, and enhances electoral legitimacy.
Signed into law on February 18, the Electoral Act 2026 emerged from a three-year consultative process involving the National Assembly, civil society organisations and INEC.
Amupitan commended advocacy groups for sensitising citizens on the law’s provisions, adding that civic engagement is indispensable to democratic consolidation.
He stressed that democracy thrives on an informed electorate, quoting Abraham Lincoln’s famous words that “the ballot is more powerful than the bullet.”
He warned that voter ignorance poses a threat to both national security and democratic progress.