The amended Electoral Act 2026 signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been rejected by opposition political party leaders in Nigeria.
In a meeting in Abuja Thursday, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, leading Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi and others criticized the way and manner the the National Assembly passed the law.
Also present are former Senate President David Mark, a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Buba Galadima, a former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and the National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Rauf Aregbesola.
Other stakeholders at the venue include the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi; Senator Dino Melaye; a former ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu; and a former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, among others.
Ajuri Ahmed of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) told a crowded press conference that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is working to present President Tinubu as the only serious presidential candidate in 2027.
He said data shows that election results can be transmitted from every polling unit and wondered why the manual proviso should be included in the act, adding that they were surprised at the speed that the President signed the act, while he did not do that with other acts.
Ahmed said the just concluded Federal Capital Territory (FCT) election proofed that the APC was in haste to sign the Electoral Act.
The opposition leaders also condemned the FCT election, saying it was a litmus test which the new Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman had failed.
The opposition leaders, who meet at the Lagos/Osun Hall of Transcorp Hilton, addressed other contentious provisions of the Electoral Act, as well as other key national issues.
Under the Electoral Act 2022, political parties were permitted to nominate candidates through direct primaries involving all registered members, indirect primaries conducted by delegates, or by consensus arrangements reached by party leaders.
However, the 2026 Electoral Act, recently passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Tinubu on February 18, restricts parties to only direct primaries and consensus options.
In addition, the new law shortens campaign periods and timelines for primaries, while funding for the Independent National Electoral Commission will now be released six months before an election, instead of the previous 12 months.
