|By Adejumo Adekunle
The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum has sharply criticised the National Assembly of Nigeria over controversial provisions in the Electoral Act 2026 (as amended), warning that key omissions could weaken Nigeria’s democratic and legal standards.
The group specifically condemned the exclusion of certificate forgery and qualification-related issues as valid grounds for election petitions, describing the move as a significant departure from previous electoral laws.
Speaking on behalf of the forum, its President, Akin Malaolu, expressed concern over Section 138(1) of the amended Act, which now restricts election disputes to only two grounds: claims of invalidity due to corrupt practices or non-compliance with electoral provisions, and allegations that a candidate was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes.
He also highlighted Section 138(3), which imposes penalties of not less than ₦5 million on legal practitioners and ₦10 million on petitioners who file cases outside the approved grounds.
According to the forum, removing “qualification” issues—such as allegations of certificate forgery—from admissible petition grounds represents a dangerous shift that could shield misconduct.
Malaolu said the development had triggered widespread concern among members, prompting the forum to undertake a critical review of the amended legislation and its broader implications for governance.
“We have reflected deeply on these provisions and undertaken a critical introspection of the quality of leadership in the present National Assembly,” he said, noting what he described as a failure to consider clauses that appear sympathetic to forgery.
He warned that any legal framework perceived to tolerate or protect forgery could embolden dishonesty, falsification, and misrepresentation across society, particularly within the education sector.
“Fraud and forgery are not taught in schools, but they thrive when society fails to uphold standards that discourage them,” he added.
The forum also called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to release the full details of the amended Electoral Act, rather than making its contents available in fragments.
Malaolu stressed the need to safeguard legal and moral standards, cautioning that weakening such protections could have far-reaching consequences for national integrity.
The group warned that Nigeria’s democratic institutions risk being undermined if the identified gaps in the legislation are not urgently addressed.
