2027 ELECTIONS: Fake ballots could be accepted under Electoral Act, Dasuki warns

MAIN POINT:

The Sokoto lawmaker calls for INEC chairman’s briefing, raises concerns over election credibility, security and funding

By KEMI KASUMU

“We don’t want to wait till on the eve of election before we know what INEC is going to do, and we are the only ones empowered in the constitution to ask INEC how ready they are,” said Dasuki.

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki, has raised concerns over Section 63(2) of the Electoral Act, warning that the provision could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections by allowing ballot papers without the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) official marks or security features to be accepted.

Dasuki, who represents a constituency in Sokoto State, raised the concerns on the floor of the House of Representatives, urging lawmakers to address the issue ahead of the next general elections.

He argued that the provision could create room for ballot papers lacking the prescribed security features to be accepted by presiding officers, potentially raising questions about the integrity of votes cast and counted during elections.

“Section 63 subsection 2, Mr. Speaker, gave a polling unit officer or presiding officer the opportunity to accept any paper that is not having the marks or any security feature of INEC,” the lawmaker said.

Drawing an analogy with counterfeit currency, Dasuki questioned the implications of accepting ballot papers without the required authentication features.

“It’s just like you saying go to the bank, collect money — if you have fake money inside the bank, for as long as it’s in the bundle, that means it’s accepted,” he added.

The lawmaker disclosed that he and the House Whip had submitted a bill seeking to address the concerns surrounding the provision.

He urged the House leadership to give the proposed legislation and a related motion the necessary attention before the 2027 elections, stressing the importance of resolving potential electoral loopholes well ahead of the polls.

Dasuki also called for the chairman of INEC to brief members of the House on the commission’s level of preparedness for the forthcoming elections.

According to him, lawmakers should not wait until the eve of the elections before seeking assurances about the commission’s readiness to conduct credible polls.

“We don’t want to wait till on the eve of election before we know what INEC is going to do, and we are the only ones empowered in the constitution to ask INEC how ready they are,” he stated.

The lawmaker further expressed concerns about security challenges and the funding available to INEC, highlighting the need for early legislative engagement to ensure that potential obstacles are addressed before election day.

He maintained that the credibility of the 2027 elections would depend partly on the ability of relevant institutions to identify and resolve weaknesses in the electoral process in good time.

Responding to the concerns, the Speaker of the House of Representatives acknowledged Dasuki’s submission and promised to examine the matter, with a view to accommodating the motion during the week.

“I have heard what you have said, I will look at your issue, and we will try as much as possible within the week to accommodate the motion that you already brought before the parliament in July,” the Speaker said.

The development comes as preparations for the 2027 general elections place renewed attention on electoral transparency, the integrity of ballot papers, the readiness of election administrators and the effectiveness of Nigeria’s electoral legal framework.

Dasuki’s concerns centre on the need for lawmakers to scrutinise the relevant provision and establish whether further legislative clarification or safeguards are necessary to protect the credibility of future elections. His call for an early briefing by the INEC chairman also underscores the importance of accountability and timely preparation ahead of the polls.