Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the FCT, has alleged that major provisions in the amended Electoral Act 2026 differ significantly from what lawmakers originally approved.
Speaking during a TV interview, she said several sections of the bill were altered and no longer reflect the outcome of stakeholder consultations.
According to her, even key aspects like ballot paper security appear to have been weakened compared to the initial proposal.
“They (final provisions) were not in the original ones. I spoke to somebody about it. I said, ‘I can show you the document I have’,” she said.
She questioned the removal or dilution of standard security features on ballot papers, warning that such changes could pose serious risks to the credibility of elections.
“Since when, in what election have we ever conducted where INEC ballot papers did not have security measures that you can bring any type of ballot paper and vote with it? It’s never happened,” she said.
Her remarks come amid ongoing debate over the interpretation of provisions in the Electoral Act, particularly around ballot validation and the powers of presiding officers.
The amended law was signed earlier this year by Bola Tinubu.