|By Chinwendu Nwani
A lecturer at Iconic University, Faruk Yusuf, has raised concerns over the recent amendment to the Electoral Act 2026 which removes certificate forgery as a ground for filing election petitions, warning that the development could weaken accountability in Nigeria’s democratic system.
Yusuf made the observation in an exclusive interview, where he expressed worries about the integrity and credibility of individuals seeking public office under the new legal framework.
“I’m pretty much concerned about accountability and integrity of people who are coming into power with the new constitutional amendment,” he said.
According to him, the previous legal framework empowered election tribunals to nullify elections if a candidate was found to have submitted forged academic certificates.
“I believe the change could weaken accountability in leadership. Previously, election tribunals could nullify an election if it was proven that a candidate submitted forged certificates,” Yusuf explained.
He warned that the amendment could create a troubling situation within the political system by reducing scrutiny on the qualifications of political office holders.
“With the introduction of the new law, the system looks scary since it now encourages adoption of forgery papers,” he said.
Yusuf added that removing certificate forgery as a ground for election petitions may make it more difficult to challenge the credibility and qualifications of elected officials.
“Removing this ground may make it harder to challenge the qualification and credibility of elected officials, which could undermine public trust in democratic institutions,” he said.
The lecturer stressed that transparency and ethical leadership remain essential pillars of democratic governance, noting that any policy that appears to reduce scrutiny of candidates’ credentials could weaken democratic standards.
“From a democratic perspective, transparency and ethical leadership are key. Policies that appear to reduce scrutiny of candidates’ qualifications risk weakening democratic standards, especially in a system where credibility and trust are already fragile,” he stated.
He further warned that the development could pose serious threats to Nigeria’s democracy if not carefully addressed.
“This idea could send our democracy into serious threats,” Yusuf cautioned.
While acknowledging that the amendment may have been introduced to simplify election litigation processes, he maintained that it raises major concerns about accountability and the integrity of political leadership.
“The amendment may aim to simplify election litigation, but it raises important concerns about accountability, constitutional consistency, and the integrity of political leadership,” he said.
Yusuf also described the change as a development that could favour politicians at the expense of democratic accountability.
“It is kind of a two-way advantage for the politicians and really bad for democracy,” he added.
He noted that the long-term consequences of the amendment will depend largely on how courts interpret the law and whether future reforms address potential loopholes.
“The real impact will likely depend on how courts interpret the law and whether future reforms address the gap,” Yusuf concluded.
