The Presidency has accused the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) of spreading misinformation about the newly signed Electoral Act 2026.
On Thursday, both opposition parties described the amended law as “obnoxious” and a threat to Nigeria’s democracy. They alleged it was designed to entrench a one-party state and called on the national assembly to repeal and re-enact the legislation.
President Bola Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 amendment bill into law on February 18 after it was passed by the national assembly.
Key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 include electronic transmission of election results, with manual collation permitted where technological failures occur.
The law also mandates political parties to nominate candidates through direct primaries or consensus arrangements.
However, the ADC and NNPP rejected these provisions, insisting the amendments could undermine electoral integrity.
Presidency Fires Back
In a statement, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, dismissed the opposition’s criticism as exaggerated and misleading.
He accused the parties of “constant lamentation and unwarranted outrage” against the APC-led federal government and claimed they were attempting to mislead the public for political gain.
According to Onanuga, the Electoral Act 2026 is a significant improvement on the repealed law and closes loopholes that could previously be exploited for manipulation.
He also alleged that some opposition figures were working with civil society groups to wage a disinformation campaign against the administration and the legislature.
Electronic Transmission and EC8A Debate
The Presidency defended the provision allowing real-time transmission of results while retaining Form EC8A as a backup in the event of network failure.
Onanuga argued that concerns over Form EC8A creating opportunities for manipulation ignore the realities of network instability in parts of the country.
“Any reasonable Nigerian understands that network glitches are a real issue,” he said.
He clarified that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s results viewing portal (IReV) is not a collation centre but a transparency platform for uploading results for public viewing. He added that Form EC8 remains the primary legal document for validating election outcomes.
Direct Primaries Controversy
Onanuga described the opposition’s rejection of direct primaries as “perplexing”, insisting that direct participation and consensus voting are more democratic than delegate-based systems.
He noted that lawmakers consulted stakeholders, technical experts and citizens over a two-year period before finalising the amendments, particularly to address concerns about technological failures during elections.
One-Party State Allegation Rejected
The Presidency firmly rejected claims that the new Electoral Act is a step towards establishing a one-party state.
Onanuga said Nigeria remains home to more than a dozen registered political parties, including the ADC and NNPP. He argued that the opposition’s grievances stem from internal disorganisation rather than any attempt by the government to stifle dissent.
