The Independent National Electoral Commission has reiterated the need for a more straightforward and easily comprehensible Electoral Act as preparations gradually build toward the 2027 general elections.
The commission said the existing legislation remains too technical for many citizens and should be rewritten in clearer language to enhance public understanding.
This position was presented by the INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, during a citizens’ town hall meeting held in Abuja.
The forum was convened by the Civil Society Network on Election Integrity in collaboration with stakeholders focused on electoral reforms.
Amupitan emphasized that electoral legislation must be drafted in a manner that makes it accessible to the average Nigerian, noting that simplifying the law would help minimize misunderstandings and conflicting interpretations that often trigger post-election disputes.
He stated, “What Nigeria needs is actually what I call simple legislation, a simple language legislation, whereby it will be possible for every Nigerian to understand and appreciate the provisions of every section.”
Addressing debates over the electronic transmission of election results, the INEC chairman clarified that the commission does not consider digital transmission itself to be the core challenge. Rather, he explained that disagreements largely stem from differing interpretations of what qualifies as “real time” transmission, alongside concerns about the country’s telecommunications infrastructure.
He said, “Talking about the transmission of the result, when INEC came in, we thought that transmission should be mandated. But let us be sincere about this, the only problem we had is how to define what we call real time.”
Citing a recent area council election in the Federal Capital Territory, Amupitan noted that results from five councils were released promptly, while figures from one ward were delayed until the following day because officials could not be contacted. He said, “I don’t see the issue of transmission as a problem; the problem is the adequacy of the network we have.”
He further observed that network limitations, even within the Federal Capital Territory, prevented the immediate upload of certain results. According to him, such practical constraints should be explicitly addressed in the Electoral Act to ensure that legal expectations align with operational realities.
The commission maintained that revising the legislation in simpler terms would strengthen public confidence in the electoral system and reduce litigation after elections. INEC also called on lawmakers to commence work early on potential amendments to the Act before full-scale preparations for the 2027 general elections begin.
