The Presidency has accused the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) of spreading misinformation about the Electoral Act, 2026.
On Thursday, opposition parties criticised the amended law, describing it as “obnoxious”, a threat to democracy and an alleged attempt to entrench a one-party state in Nigeria.
Electoral Act Amendment 2026
President Bola Tinubu signed the Electoral Act amendment bill into law on February 18, following its passage by the National Assembly.
Key provisions of the law include electronic transmission of election results, with manual collation allowed as a fallback where technology fails. The law also stipulates that political parties must nominate candidates through direct primaries or consensus.
The ADC and NNPP rejected the provisions and called on the National Assembly to repeal and re-enact the law.
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In a statement, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, urged the ADC and NNPP to desist from what he described as “constant lamentation and unwarranted outrage” against the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government.
He accused the opposition, particularly the ADC, of issuing “irresponsible” political statements aimed at attracting attention and misleading the public.
Defence of Electoral Act Provisions
Onanuga said the opposition was exaggerating the implications of the amended Electoral Act, attributing their criticisms to internal disorganisation and lack of preparedness.
He maintained that the new law represents a significant improvement on the repealed legislation and closes loopholes previously exploited for electoral manipulation.
The presidential aide also alleged that opposition parties were collaborating with some civil society organisations to spread disinformation against the National Assembly and the administration.
Electronic Transmission and EC8A Explained
Defending the law, Onanuga said it provides for real-time electronic transmission of election results while retaining Form EC8A as a backup in cases of network failure.
He dismissed claims that the use of Form EC8A creates opportunities for manipulation, arguing that such assertions ignore the reality of network challenges in parts of the country.
“Any reasonable Nigerian understands that network glitches are a real issue,” he said.
IReV Not a Collation Centre
Onanuga also addressed concerns about the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) results viewing portal (IReV), stating that it is not a collation centre but a platform for uploading results for public viewing. He added that Form EC8 remains the primary document for validating election results.
Direct Primaries and One-Party State Claims
The presidential spokesman criticised the opposition’s rejection of direct primaries, describing the stance as perplexing. He argued that direct primaries and consensus arrangements are more democratic than the delegate system previously used by many political parties.
Onanuga said lawmakers consulted widely over a two-year period, engaging stakeholders, experts and citizens who raised concerns about technical failures that could undermine elections.
He also rejected claims that President Tinubu is working to impose a one-party system, noting that Nigeria has more than a dozen registered political parties, including the ADC and NNPP.
According to him, the challenges facing opposition parties stem from internal disorganisation rather than any attempt by the federal government to suppress dissent.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
