Electoral reform proposals and legal challenges emerge in Kenya and Nigeria

In Kenya, the People’s Coalition on Electoral Reforms, led by former Chief Justice David Maraga, has proposed four amendments to the Elections Amendment Bill to safeguard the 2027 General Election. The coalition is calling for the hourly electronic transmission of voter turnout figures to a public portal to prevent the manipulation of results. Other proposals include making results declared at polling stations final and immediately reviewable only by an election court, requiring constituency returning officers to livestream declarations, and aggregating presidential results in an open public space in Nairobi using secure systems.

In Nigeria, the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled a December 8 judgment regarding a legal challenge to the Electoral Act 2026. The suit, filed by the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts and director Sam Amadi, contests Section 65(b) of the Act. This specific provision empowers the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to review election results within seven days if it is satisfied that a declaration was made knowingly and willfully contrary to prescribed procedures. The plaintiffs argue that this power allows INEC to improperly interfere with or set aside declarations made by returning officers.