The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has criticised the National Assembly for removing the presentation of forged certificates as a valid ground for challenging election results in the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026, describing the decision as a serious setback for electoral accountability in Nigeria.
In a statement jointly signed by its leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and its National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, the organisation said the amendment weakens democratic safeguards by shielding candidates with questionable academic credentials from legal scrutiny after elections.
Afenifere argued that the change effectively narrows the legal avenues available to citizens and political actors seeking to challenge election outcomes through the courts. According to the group, the revised provisions of the law significantly limit the grounds upon which election petitions can be filed.
“The act effectively constricts the democratic space by limiting the legal basis upon which election petitions can be filed,” the organisation said.
The group explained that under Section 138 of the Electoral Act 2026, election petitions are now restricted to only two grounds. These include cases involving corruption or non-compliance with electoral laws and situations where it is contested whether the declared winner actually secured the majority of lawful votes cast during an election.
According to Afenifere, the removal of forged academic credentials as a ground for election petitions represents a major departure from earlier legal frameworks that allowed such matters to be raised in court during post-election disputes.
The organisation expressed concern that the development undermines the spirit of accountability in Nigeria’s electoral system and could allow candidates with questionable qualifications to remain in office without proper legal scrutiny.
It further noted that the change appears to contradict provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, which clearly stipulates that any candidate who presents a forged certificate to secure public office is disqualified from holding such a position.
Afenifere warned that removing the provision from the Electoral Act could create legal complications and weaken mechanisms designed to ensure that only qualified individuals occupy elective positions.
The organisation also criticised the inclusion of fines targeting petitioners and legal practitioners who attempt to raise issues not explicitly listed in the Act as grounds for election petitions.
According to the statement, such penalties may discourage lawyers and citizens from pursuing legitimate concerns about the eligibility of elected officials, thereby reducing transparency and weakening democratic accountability.
“These fines target petitioners and their lawyers who attempt to present cases based on grounds not specifically named in the Act, a move that is designed to discourage legal scrutiny of elected officials,” the group said.
Afenifere therefore called on lawmakers to urgently reconsider the amendment and take steps to restore the provision that allows forged certificates to be used as grounds for challenging election results.
The organisation insisted that the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process depends on maintaining strong legal safeguards that ensure candidates seeking public office meet the required constitutional standards.
It urged the National Assembly to withdraw the controversial provision and re-enact the legislation in a manner that protects the integrity of the electoral system while strengthening public confidence in the democratic process.
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