Alleged Fraud: Atiku faults counting of unmarked ballot papers, calls for Electoral Act review
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised a provision in the Electoral Act that allows ballot papers without official markings to be counted at the discretion of a returning officer, urging the National Assembly to urgently amend the law.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the provision—contained in Section 63 of the Electoral Act—as a serious and potentially dangerous ambiguity that could undermine electoral credibility in Nigeria.
He warned that leaving the validity of ballots to subjective judgement introduces a significant risk to the integrity of elections.
“This is not a minor technical matter; it is a direct threat to electoral integrity,” the statement said. “A democracy cannot function on ambiguity. A ballot either meets the required standard or it does not.”
Atiku argued that allowing discretion in determining valid votes could open the door to manipulation, disputes, and post-election chaos. He acknowledged that the provision may have been intended to prevent voter disenfranchisement, but said its current wording weakens public confidence in the electoral process.
“At a time when Nigerians are demanding greater transparency and credibility, retaining such a clause undermines trust in the very foundation of democracy—the vote,” he said.
He further noted that the provision appears to be a legacy issue carried over from previous electoral frameworks without adequate safeguards in the current law. According to him, the amendment process failed to sufficiently close existing gaps in the system.
Atiku called on lawmakers to remove any room for discretion in ballot validation and to establish clear, binding standards that guarantee the integrity of every vote cast.
“Ballot papers are not ordinary documents; they are legal instruments central to the credibility of elections,” he said. “This is not about assigning blame, but about taking responsibility. The law must be corrected to restore public trust and protect the sanctity of the vote.”
He also urged President Bola Tinubu to exercise greater scrutiny over electoral legislation before giving assent, stressing that democracy depends on certainty, not subjective interpretation.