Labour Party: Electoral Act Alone Cannot Guarantee Credibility, Fair Election in 2027

Chuks Okocha in Abuja                                                                

The Labour Party (LP) has said the credibility of the 2027 general election would depend not solely on statutory provisions or institutional mechanisms, but on the vigilance, determination, and collective resolve of the Nigerian people.

The Interim National Chairman, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, at the Citizens’ Townhall on the Electoral Act, 2026, in Abuja, said the controversy surrounding the provision in Section 60(3) of the Act was unnecessary if political parties could deploy well-trained, vigilant, and capable agents across all polling units.

Usman noted that Form EC8A was the primary source for collating results, which should be countersigned by candidates or polling agents.

“I understand the concerns expressed, particularly by opposition parties, about the possibility that the fallback to Form EC8A in the event of network disruptions could be abused.

“However, I have consistently maintained that the success or failure of any political party at a polling unit ultimately depends on the party’s preparedness and presence at that polling unit,” she stated.

According to her, the responsibility of ensuring that the votes were protected, properly documented, and accurately reflected on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal lay with political parties.

“We must all remember that the IREV is primarily for viewing results and keeping records, not collation,” she said.

The National Chairman stated that the Labour Party has learnt some lessons from the last presidential election, stating that the party realised that the foundation of electoral success lies in meticulous grassroots preparation, particularly the deployment of agents.

She disclosed that the party was committing significant resources and energy toward ensuring effective representation across the 176,974 polling units nationwide.