Civil society raises alarm over 2027 elections without Reform

Civil society leaders have renewed calls for comprehensive reforms to Nigeria’s electoral system, warning that failure to act decisively could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

They made the call at the unveiling of the Review on Electoral Reforms hosted by Policy, Legal and Advocacy Centre (PLAC), in partnership with PAACA, WRAPA, and the MacArthur Foundation, in Abuja.

The Executive Director of PLAC, Dr. Clement Nwankwo, stressed that Nigeria is still far from conducting elections without controversy and called for reform.

“We must pursue electoral reform with a single-track mind. Unless reform happens, our electoral system will continue to suffer the same challenges it faces today,” Nwankwo said.

He acknowledged progress in past reform efforts but cautioned that poverty and political resistance remain major obstacles. “The rapid impoverishment going on in Nigeria is a threat to the 2027 elections. It is also a strategy for those who do not want credible elections,” he added.

Legislative Uncertainty

According to him, discussions are ongoing in the National Assembly on a repeal and re-enactment of the Electoral Act, with public hearings scheduled for October 13 and a joint retreat from October 16–19. Lawmakers hope to pass a new Act by November.

But experts fear the process could face political hurdles. Prof. Etannibi Alemika, a criminologist, warned that unresolved constitutional amendments may force early changes to the Electoral Act before 2027.

“It looks like we might have a new Electoral Act before the Constitution Review is completed. That could mean the Act experiences its first amendments even before the next elections,” Alemika said.

Beyond the Law

Prof. Alemika and other speakers argued that reforms must go beyond legislation. They pointed to manipulation at polling and collation centres, weak institutions, and the influence of money in politics as lingering problems.

“We need reflection on what will truly change our situation. Is it just rules in the law, or do we need reforms in other pillars of society, security, institutions, and political culture?” Alemika asked.

He further noted that impoverishment is being weaponised to influence voter behaviour, calling it “a strategy for those who don’t want credible elections.”

A Pattern of Endless Amendments

Prof. Nkwachukwu Orji, a political scientist and lead researcher from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, while presenting the report, highlighted Nigeria’s history of frequent electoral amendments. Between 1999 and 2022, “the Electoral Act was altered 12 times.”

He explained that while some changes were driven by genuine reform efforts, others were shaped by political interests. “The high frequency of reforms has become a problem in itself,” Orji said.

Orji identified three main pillars of reform: legislative changes, executive-led electoral panels, and administrative reforms within INEC and security institutions.

Civil Society Commitment

Speakers such as Secretary General of WRAPA, Hajia Saudatu Mahdi, commended civil society organisations including PAACA, and long-term partners such as the MacArthur Foundation, for sustaining the push for reform since 2010.

They agreed that while laws are important, Nigeria must address the underlying socio-economic and institutional weaknesses that make elections vulnerable to manipulation.

“Even with the best reforms, you will still find reasons to review elections,” one civil society leader said. “Reform requires everybody on board.”

The Road to 2027

As Nigeria prepares for its next general elections, experts insist that reform is not optional. Without tackling poverty, political manipulation, and weak institutions, they warned, the promise of credible elections will remain elusive.

Editing by Daniel Adejo