Afenifere Slams Electoral Act Change
The pan Yoruba socio political organisation Afenifere has criticised the removal of forged certificates as a ground for filing election petitions in the Electoral Act 2026, describing the move as a setback for Nigeria’s democracy.
In a communiqué signed by its leader Oba Oladipo Olaitan and National Publicity Secretary Prince Justice Faloye, the group warned that the amendment limits the democratic space by restricting the conditions under which election petitions can be filed.
According to the organisation, the revised law now allows petitions only on two grounds — that an election was invalid because of corrupt practices or non compliance with the Electoral Act, or that the declared winner was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes.
Afenifere argued that the previous legal framework allowed forged certificates to be challenged during election petitions, noting that the Constitution still disqualifies candidates who present false academic credentials.
The group also criticised provisions that impose penalties on petitioners and lawyers who file cases outside the recognised grounds and called for the law to be reviewed to restore safeguards that protect the integrity of elections.
