Electoral reform: INEC boss calls for simple language election legislation

Mariam Abeeb

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, 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, held 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.

Responding to concerns about the technical glitches that affected the electronic transmission of results during the 2023 presidential election, the INEC chairman assured Nigerians that the issues have been resolved.

He explained that, although devices performed well in off-cycle state elections, they were not adequately stress-tested for nationwide use during the presidential poll. He disclosed that the Commission will conduct extensive, nationwide stress-testing of its systems ahead of the 2027 general elections to ensure seamless inter-state transmission.

The Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, urged lawmakers to delete the clause.

“I just wished that the lawmakers eliminated that particular proviso. This is why we made a call to them to commence the process of amending that Act and just delete that particular proviso,” he said.

“That way, as a country we will maximise the utility of electronic transmission of results because it limits human interference, it makes the whole process open and transparent. If politicians are not scared I see no reason why this was not considered in its full breadth.”

Itodo also warned that the compressed election timetable could strain the commission and noted that credibility would be shaped not only by election day performance but by preparation, transparency in resource management, professionalism of officials, the conduct of political actors, and the independence of security agencies and the judiciary.

“And lastly, the vigilance of citizens is what will determine the credibility of the next elections, because democracy is not self-executing. It requires guardians, and the citizens of this great country are the guardians that we need,” he added.

Also speaking, Chairman of the National Assembly’s bipartisan conference committee on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, Adebayo Balogun, maintained that Form EC8A remains the primary source for result collation.

But Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central, described the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) as a “game-changer,” noting that electronic transmission of Form EC8A was designed to forestall manipulation.