Electoral Act 2026: Tinubu defends assent, opposition kicks

Tinubu

Opposition parties and civil society organisations have condemned President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment), describing the move as a setback to Nigeria’s democratic progress and a legalisation of electoral manipulation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Peoples Democratic Party, on Wednesday, alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress’s fear of losing the upcoming elections drove what is called the rushed approval of the contentious legislation, which the party described as a threat to the country’s democratic process.

President Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law around 5pm on Wednesday at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, with senior National Assembly officials in attendance.

It came barely 24 hours after the bill was passed by both chambers of the National Assembly.

During the ceremony, Tinubu raised concerns about Nigeria’s current broadband infrastructure and technical capacity to handle real-time electronic transmission of election results, even as he signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law.

But in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP called the development “a dark day for democracy.”

He stated, “The hurried grant of presidential assent to the contentious bill, as passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, despite widespread opposition from Nigerians, confirms that this was a well-choreographed drama by the APC.

“The party’s fear of inevitable defeat in a free and fair election is palpable, and they can no longer conceal it. This is indeed a sad day for democracy.

“The Nigerian people have been dealt a bad hand, one that existentially threatens democratic governance. The President has demonstrated an inability to rise above partisanship in the art of governance.”