Electoral Act Controversy in Nigeria: Ireti Kingibe Raises Concerns Over Altered Reform Document

A Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has raised serious concerns regarding the integrity of the Electoral Act, stating that the document has been significantly altered from its original version.

Speaking on Monday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time program, Kingibe explained that the version currently in circulation does not reflect what was initially drafted and agreed upon during the reform process.

According to her, she actively participated as a member of the Committee for Electoral Reforms, where extensive efforts were made over a two-year period to produce a comprehensive and credible document. She emphasized that the committee’s work involved collaboration across multiple stakeholders, including both chambers of the National Assembly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and various civil society organizations.

Kingibe pointed out that the final document presented differs significantly from what was originally developed. She stressed that several provisions now included were not part of the agreed draft, raising questions about how those changes were introduced.

She further highlighted concerns about election security protocols, particularly regarding ballot papers. Drawing from past electoral processes, she noted that Nigerian elections have traditionally incorporated strict security features on ballot papers to prevent unauthorized duplication or misuse. She expressed surprise at suggestions implying that such safeguards were absent, insisting that such a scenario had never occurred in previous elections.

The lawmaker recounted a conversation in which she challenged claims about certain provisions, stating that she possesses documentation that contradicts those assertions. She maintained that if certain elements are now present in the Act, they were not part of the committee’s original work.

Reinforcing the depth of the reform process, Kingibe explained that the committee’s work was not limited to a single legislative body. Instead, it involved a bicameral approach, bringing together both the Senate and the House of Representatives in joint deliberations. Additionally, input from INEC and civil society groups ensured that the resulting document was designed to promote transparency, credibility, and fairness in elections.

Despite these efforts, she concluded that the final outcome deviated drastically from what had been collectively agreed upon. In her view, the core structure and intent of the Electoral Act were fundamentally altered, effectively reversing key aspects of the original reform framework.