A lecturer at the Iconic University, Faruk Yusuf, has expressed concern over the recent decision to remove certificate forgery as a ground for filing election petitions in the amended Electoral Act 2026.
He warned that the move could weaken accountability in Nigeria’s democratic system.
Yusuf in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST said he is particularly worried 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 change could weaken leadership accountability because election tribunals previously had the authority to nullify elections if it was proven that a candidate 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,” he explained.
He noted that the introduction of the new law could create a worrying situation in the political system.
“With the introduction of the new law, the system looks scary since it now encourages adoption of forgery papers,” Yusuf said.
The lecturer further argued that removing certificate forgery as a ground for election petitions could make it more difficult to question the 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.
Yusuf stressed that transparency and ethical leadership are essential pillars of democracy and warned that policies that appear to reduce scrutiny of candidates’ qualifications 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 said.
He added that the development could pose serious threats to Nigeria’s democratic system if not properly addressed.
“This idea could send our democracy into serious threats,” Yusuf warned.
While acknowledging that the amendment might have been introduced to simplify election litigation, he said the change raises major concerns about 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 amendment as a development that could favour politicians while harming democratic accountability.
“It is kind of a two-way advantage for the politicians and really bad for democracy,” he added.
According to him, the long-term consequences of the amendment will depend largely on how the courts interpret the law and whether future reforms address the gaps it creates.
“The real impact will likely depend on how courts interpret the law and whether future reforms address the gap,” he said.
He concluded that, in his view, the amendment ultimately weakens the accountability framework within Nigeria’s political system.
Removing certificate forgery from election petitions threatens democracy – Yusuf
