On Thursday, February 26, leaders of Nigeria’s principal opposition political parties launched a fierce critique of the Electoral Act 2026, labeling it as anti-democratic and asserting that it was intentionally crafted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate the upcoming 2027 general elections.
During a global press conference held at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, the opposition coalition expressed that the recently amended law, which was passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s democracy and could lead the nation into a political crisis if not promptly reviewed.
The briefing, delivered by the National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ajuji Ahmed, was attended by prominent opposition figures, including the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, as well as Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and Peter Obi, among others.
The opposition leaders proclaimed their commitment to stand “shoulder to shoulder with Nigerians” in opposing what they referred to as the “obnoxious provisions” of the new Electoral Act, asserting that its enforcement would jeopardize transparency, weaken democratic institutions, and compromise the integrity of the ballot.
They specifically objected to the provision in Section 60(3) of the Act, which they contended grants excessive discretionary powers to presiding officers regarding the transmission of election results.
In their view, this clause effectively undermines the mandatory electronic transmission of results from polling units by allowing for delays under the pretext of network failure.
Citing previous remarks made by former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, and former INEC Commissioner, Festus Okoye, the opposition asserted that the technological framework for electronic transmission is already in place and that issues with network connectivity cannot be used as a reason to undermine the process.
They also referred to statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), highlighting that Nigeria has achieved over 95 percent 2G coverage along with millions of active internet subscriptions, which they argued are adequate to facilitate real-time result transmission across the country.
Concerning party primaries, the opposition opposed the amendment to Section 84 of the Act that restricts parties to direct primaries and consensus for candidate selection. They characterized this provision as an unconstitutional infringement on the independence of political parties and cautioned that it could destabilize opposition parties in the lead-up to 2027.
They contended that indirect primaries are a valid democratic choice and should not be removed through legislation. They claimed that this limitation was a deliberate effort to sow discord within opposition ranks and to set the stage for what they referred to as the “coronation” of President Tinubu in 2027.
The coalition further characterized the recent Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections as a “test-run” of what they described as the APC’s rigging strategy for the upcoming general elections.
They alleged inconsistencies between the votes recorded and the number of accredited voters in certain councils and denounced the elections as fraudulent.
The opposition also raised alarms about what they termed a historically low voter turnout in the FCT elections, with participation rates ranging from 7.2 percent in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) to approximately 15 percent in other area councils. They labeled this trend as a vote of no confidence in the electoral system and an indication of increasing public skepticism.
In addition to electoral issues, the political parties condemned the increasing occurrences of political violence, referencing a recent assault on ADC leaders in Edo State and the murder of a party agent during the FCT election.
They cautioned that intolerance and thuggery represent significant dangers to national stability and the consolidation of democracy.
The coalition also expressed concern regarding what it termed the “creeping weaponisation of the judiciary,” urging judicial officials to maintain impartiality and resist partisan influences. It emphasized that electoral results should be decided by the electorate, not by the judiciary.
Requesting that the National Assembly promptly initiate a new amendment process, the opposition insisted on the elimination of all provisions they view as anti-democratic and misaligned with the Nigerian people’s aspirations for credible elections.
They called upon civil society organizations and citizens to participate in what they referred to as a collective endeavor to “protect the world’s largest black democracy” from democratic regression.
“We are dedicated to safeguarding your votes and ensuring that every vote is counted,” the opposition leaders proclaimed, committing to unity and vigilance in preparation for the 2027 elections.
They urged for national unity, asserting that rebuilding public confidence in the electoral system is crucial for preserving Nigeria’s democratic future.
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