Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised a provision in the Electoral Act that allows unmarked ballot papers to be counted at the discretion of a returning officer, describing it as a serious flaw that undermines electoral integrity and should be urgently amended by the National Assembly.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Abubakar specifically faulted Section 63 of the Act, which he said contains a “grave and dangerous ambiguity” capable of compromising the credibility of elections in Nigeria.

He warned that allowing discretion in determining the validity of ballot papers creates a loophole that could be exploited to manipulate electoral outcomes and erode public confidence in the democratic process.

“This is not a minor technical issue—it is a direct threat to electoral integrity,” the statement read. “A democracy cannot survive on ambiguity. A ballot must either meet the standard or it does not. The moment you leave such a critical decision to subjective judgment, you invite manipulation, dispute, and ultimately, chaos.”

While acknowledging that the provision may have been intended to prevent voter disenfranchisement, Abubakar argued that its current formulation risks undermining trust in the electoral system.

“At a time when Nigerians are demanding transparency and credibility, it is reckless to retain a clause that weakens confidence in the very foundation of democracy, the vote,” he said.

He further noted that the provision appears to have been carried over from previous electoral laws without adequate safeguards to prevent abuse, leaving room for subjective interpretation at a critical stage of the electoral process.

“Rather than close known gaps in our electoral framework, the amendment regrettably preserved a provision that still leaves room for subjective interpretation at a critical stage of the process,” he said.

Abubakar called on the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act to eliminate any form of discretion in ballot validation and to establish clear, non-negotiable standards to safeguard the integrity of elections.

“The leadership of the National Assembly should have been more cautious than casual in handling provisions that touch the very heart of our democracy,” he said. “A ballot paper is not an ordinary piece of paper—it is a legal instrument whose authenticity is central to the credibility of the entire electoral process.”

He added that electoral reforms must prioritise certainty over discretion, stressing that ambiguity in election rules is incompatible with democratic stability.

“This is not about blame—it is about responsibility. And this provision must be corrected to res