2027: Atiku makes nine demands from Tinubu (Full List)

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a bold challenge to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, urging it to implement comprehensive electoral and judicial reforms in anticipation of the 2027 general elections, in a new set of nine demands.

He asserts that only through the implementation of such transformative measures can public trust in Nigeria’s democratic system be rejuvenated.

In a statement released on Thursday, Atiku acknowledged and praised the robust efforts of Nigerians who are actively engaging in the ongoing Permanent Voter Card (PVC) registration exercise.

However, he expressed a grave concern: without significant reforms, the integrity and credibility of future elections remain precarious. He pointed out that the voter turnout during the 2023 elections was alarmingly low—the lowest it has been since the return to democratic rule in 1999—with a mere 24.9 million out of over 93 million registered voters participating in the electoral process.

Atiku articulated his worries about the diminishing integrity of the ballot, emphasizing that the existing electoral framework is excessively susceptible to manipulation and fraud. He referenced the disturbing trend illustrated in Prof. Chidi Odinkalu’s book, “The Selectorate,” which argues that, increasingly, judges rather than the electorate are determining the outcomes of elections.

In light of these issues, the former vice president called for a decisive return to a strict adherence to technology-driven processes for vital electoral functions, including the accreditation of voters, the transmission of results, and the collation of votes. He insists that only through these technological enhancements can Nigeria hope to secure free, fair, and transparent elections.

He insisted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) must be used without discretion, that election results at all levels be transmitted electronically, and that manual processes be completely eliminated. He also called for the appointment of electoral officials, including the INEC Chairman and Commissioners, to be subjected to democratic scrutiny rather than executive fiat, while stressing that the burden of proof in election petitions must rest on INEC to demonstrate compliance with the law.

According to Atiku, implementing these reforms would ensure transparency, reduce the influence of vested interests, and return electoral power to the people