Presidency tackles opposition over Electoral Act criticism

The Presidency has accused opposition parties of spreading disinformation and misrepresenting recent amendments to the Electoral Act, urging them to stop what it described as “constant lamentation and unwarranted outrage” against the law and the All Progressives Congress-led administration.

In a statement issued on February 26, 2026, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said some opposition figures, including members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), made what he described as “reckless and spurious allegations” against President Bola Tinubu and the APC-led Federal Government during a press conference in Abuja.

The Presidency defended the recent amendment to the Electoral Act, stating that the law allows for real-time transmission of election results while recognising Form EC8A as a valid backup in the event of network failure.

According to the statement, the amendment does not prohibit electronic transmission of results but provides a safeguard to ensure that technical glitches do not invalidate elections. It clarified that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Results Viewing Portal (IReV) is designed for public viewing of uploaded results and not as a collation centre, adding that Form EC8 remains the primary legal document for validating results.

The Presidency also faulted opposition parties for rejecting the adoption of direct primaries and consensus voting for candidate selection, arguing that the changes promote internal democracy and give party members greater participation in the process.

Onanuga said the National Assembly engaged in consultations with stakeholders, experts and members of the public over a two-year period before passing the amended law, dismissing claims that lawmakers ignored Nigerians’ views.

He further rejected allegations that the administration intends to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, describing the country as a vibrant multiparty democracy with more than a dozen registered political parties.

The Presidency maintained that the revised Electoral Act strengthens the legal framework for elections, closes perceived loopholes and enhances transparency in the electoral process.

It urged opposition leaders to focus on strengthening their internal structures rather than criticising reforms enacted by the National Assembly and signed into law by the President.