Tinubu Defends Electoral Act 2026 Amid Fierce Opposition Backlash

Opposition parties and civic groups have criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to sign the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law, calling it a blow to Nigeria’s democratic development and alleging that it opens the door to electoral manipulation ahead of the 2027 polls.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of fast-tracking the legislation out of fear of losing the next general elections. According to the party, the swift approval of the controversial amendments threatens the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.

President Bola Tinubu signed the amended law at about 5 p.m. on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, barely 24 hours after both chambers of the National Assembly passed the bill. Senior lawmakers were present at the ceremony.

While endorsing the legislation, Tinubu raised questions about Nigeria’s broadband infrastructure and whether the country currently has the technical strength to sustain real-time electronic transmission of election results.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP described the development as “a dark day for democracy,” arguing that the rapid assent confirmed suspicions of a coordinated effort by the APC. The party said the move signalled the President’s inability to rise above partisan interests in governance.

The amendment has stirred debate nationwide, particularly over provisions relating to electronic transmission of results — a demand strongly pushed by opposition parties, civil society organisations and election observers after the disputed 2023 general elections. Critics fear the revised provisions could weaken safeguards meant to prevent result manipulation.

The controversy intensified following the release of the 2027 election timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with opposition figures suggesting the changes favour the ruling party.

Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, described the amendment as a missed opportunity for transformative reform. He argued that instead of strengthening the system, the law introduces vulnerabilities that could compromise the credibility of electronic transmission.

Similarly, Friday Odeh, Country Director of Accountability Lab, warned that the new provisions could undermine election integrity, describing the law as a reversal of earlier progress.

However, Auwal Musa of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) offered a more balanced view, acknowledging the law’s imperfections but urging Nigerians to continue advocating for improvements rather than rejecting it outright.

In the House of Representatives, the Labour Party caucus condemned what it called the hasty signing of the bill. Lawmakers had earlier staged a walkout during plenary after the APC majority endorsed provisions allowing both electronic and manual transmission of results in cases of technical failure.

Caucus leader Afam Ogene questioned the speed of the presidential assent, suggesting Nigerians deserved greater scrutiny of such consequential legislation. He argued that earlier political promises supporting electronic voting now appear inconsistent with the current stance.

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) also faulted the amendment, claiming it disregards public demand for mandatory electronic transmission of results. Its National Secretary, Peter Ameh, accused the executive and legislature of working in tandem to dilute electoral safeguards.

Defending the law, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the amendment responds to citizens’ concerns and formally recognises electronic transmission of results for the first time in Nigeria’s history. He explained that while results would be uploaded electronically to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (iREV), signed physical result sheets (EC8A forms) would remain the primary collation documents, particularly in areas with limited network coverage.

Akpabio insisted that the reforms would prevent tampering once results leave polling units and allow Nigerians to cross-check uploaded figures against collated totals.

Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, highlighted additional changes, including reducing the election notice period from 360 to 300 days, a move he said would likely shift the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections to January, thereby avoiding the Ramadan period.

Meanwhile, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, praised the President for signing the bill promptly. He described the action as evidence of commitment to democratic consolidation and dismissed protests against the amendment as politically motivated.

The amended Electoral Act comes amid lingering criticism of the 2022 law following technical challenges experienced during the 2023 elections. With the 2027 general elections scheduled for February and March, the debate over electronic transmission, transparency, and electoral trust is expected to remain at the forefront of Nigeria’s political discourse.