Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum Criticizes National Assembly Over Amended Electoral Act Gap Regarding Certificate Forgery

Akin Malaolu of Yoruba Ronu slams the 2026 Electoral Act for excluding certificate forgery as grounds for petitions. Read the group's call for legal reform.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 5:46 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Politics Nigeria

A Shift in Electoral Challenge Provisions

The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, a prominent South West advocacy group, has issued a formal critique of the National Assembly regarding the recently amended Electoral Act 2026. According to a statement released on Wednesday by the forum’s president, Akin Malaolu, the new legislation contains a significant oversight by failing to recognize qualification issues and certificate forgery as valid reasons to contest an election. This development has sparked a debate over the integrity of the Nigerian electoral process and the legal standards required for public office holders.

Specific Legal Constraints in Section 138

The group’s grievances center on Section 138(1) of the Act, which reportedly narrows the scope of election petitions to just two primary areas. These are limited to cases involving corrupt practices or non compliance with the law, and instances where a candidate was not elected by a majority of lawful votes. Malaolu argued that by omitting academic qualification as a standalone ground for a petition, the legislature has significantly weakened the ability of the judiciary to vet the background of successful candidates.

Financial Penalties for Unauthorized Petitions

Adding to the controversy is subsection (3) of the same law, which imposes substantial financial penalties on those who attempt to file cases outside the specified provisions. Legal practitioners could face fines of at least N5 million, while petitioners themselves risk penalties starting from N10 million. The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum contends that these heavy fines act as a deterrent to accountability, effectively shielding potential wrongdoers from being questioned about the authenticity of their educational credentials.