Atiku Warns Discretionary Counting of Unmarked Ballots Threatens Democracy

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over Section 63 of the Electoral Act, which allows returning officers to count unmarked ballots at their discretion. He called the clause a dangerous loophole that can undermine election credibility. He warned that subjective judgment in validating ballots invites manipulation, disputes and chaos. “A democracy cannot survive on ambiguity. A ballot must either meet the standard or it does not,” he said. Atiku acknowledged the rule was meant to prevent voter disenfranchisement but argued its current wording weakens public trust in the system. He urged the National Assembly to set clear, non-negotiable standards for ballot validation. He also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to apply rigorous scrutiny to every critical legislation before signing, stressing that democracy thrives on certainty, not discretion.

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