Afenifere Slams Electoral Law for Protecting Politicians with Forged Qualifications

Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, has criticised the National Assembly for omitting the presentation of forged certificates as a valid reason to challenge election outcomes in the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026.

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This move has been deemed a backward step by Afenifere, with its leader and National Publicity Secretary, Oba Oladipo Olaitan and Mr Justice Faloye, condemning the change as one that shields individuals with questionable academic backgrounds.

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The organisation believes that the revised law restricts the democratic process by narrowing the grounds on which election petitions can be submitted, effectively limiting the ability to hold elected officials accountable.

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According to Afenifere, the Electoral Act 2026, specifically Section 138, now only permits election petitions to be filed on two grounds: corruption or non-compliance with the law, and whether the winner received a majority of lawful votes.

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This omission is seen as contradictory to the 1999 Constitution, which explicitly disqualifies candidates who present forged certificates from holding public office, highlighting a significant inconsistency in the law.

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Afenifere has also expressed concern over the introduction of new financial penalties in the law, which target petitioners and their lawyers who attempt to file cases based on grounds not explicitly stated in the Act.

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These fines are perceived as a tactic to deter legal scrutiny of elected officials, undermining the integrity of the electoral process and the rule of law.

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In response, Afenifere is calling for the immediate withdrawal and re-enactment of the legislation to reinstate the provision regarding forged certificates and strengthen the voting process.