- ACF described President Tinubu’s swift assent to the 2026 Electoral Bill as necessary for 2027 election preparations
- The organisation called for the immediate release of the full Bill, noting that only snippets had been seen
- ACF urged lawmakers and citizens to ensure transparency and vigilance in the electoral process
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on Thursday reacted to President Bola Tinubu’s swift assent to the controversial 2026 Electoral Bill, describing the move as a necessary step in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
The northern socio-cultural organisation, however, demanded the immediate release of the full contents of the law, stating that Nigerians had so far only seen “snippets” of the document.
ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, made the position known to The PUNCH online in Kaduna.
He acknowledged that although the President’s assent appeared hurried, the legislation addressed time-bound electoral processes that could not be postponed. “The Electoral Bill as assented to by the President, as hurried as it may seem, deals with processes of the electoral system which are time-bound,” he said.
Muhammad-Baba added, “Given that we are just about a year away from the 2027 General Elections, the time to put the law in place is a critical, even non-negotiable step.”
The bill has sparked public debate, particularly regarding provisions on the mode of transmission of election results. While the issue has drawn the most attention, Muhammad-Baba stressed that the public had yet to see the full details of the legislation.
“The general public, including the ACF, has to date only snippets of the Bill. Outside of the contentious issue that emerged recently, that is, provisions regarding the mode of transmission of election results, we would like to see the contents of the full Bill, warts and all,” he noted. He added that until the complete document is made available, stakeholders must rely on information currently in the public domain. “For now, we have to work with what is on the ground,” he said.
Addressing allegations that certain provisions in bills passed by the National Assembly are sometimes altered before presidential assent, the ACF spokesman urged lawmakers to exercise vigilance to ensure the integrity of the legislative process. “With regards to allegations of tampering of provisions in bills passed by the National Assembly, it remains for all to urge patriotic National Assembly members to scrutinise the Bills very well so as to ensure the fidelity of their decisions,” he explained.
Muhammad-Baba also warned that, given what he described as the desperation of political actors, no aspect of the electoral process should be taken for granted. “Given the obvious desperation of political actors, absolutely nothing should be left to chance or taken for granted. The destiny of the country is at stake, and all citizens must stay alert,” he stated.
The ACF’s position signals cautious approval of the 2026 Electoral Bill, while emphasising transparency and vigilance as the country approaches a pivotal election year.