Electoral Act Amendments Will Be Ready for 2027 Polls – INEC Chairman

Femi Ogundele

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, says all necessary amendments to the Electoral Act will be completed before the 2027 general elections.

Yakubu gave the assurance on Monday while speaking to journalists at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the commission had conducted a post-election review of the 2023 general elections and identified 142 recommendations, eight of which require amendments to the Constitution or the Electoral Act.

“We reviewed the 2023 general elections on our own. We engaged with stakeholders. We came up with 142 recommendations, out of which eight require constitutional or Electoral Act amendment,” he said.

The INEC Chairman also dismissed reports of his removal from office, insisting he remains the Chief Electoral Officer of the country.

On the reform process, Yakubu said INEC is working closely with the National Assembly.

He disclosed that a retreat was recently held in Lagos with the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on electoral reform.

He added that a public hearing would be held before a new amendment bill is presented to the President for assent.

“So far so good, we are happy with our discussions with them, and we are also happy with the speed with which they want to proceed so that we’ll have some necessary amendments done to the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 general elections,” Yakubu said.