Nigerian Opposition Rejects Electoral Act 2026, Demands Immediate Amendments

Opposition Parties Decry 'Anti-Democratic' Provisions

A coalition of Nigerian opposition parties, prominently including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has vehemently rejected the recently assented Electoral Act 2026. The parties, speaking through NNPP National Chairman Ajuji Ahmed, described the new legislation as a 'threat to democracy' and an 'attempt to establish a one-party system' in Nigeria. They are demanding immediate amendments to what they term 'obnoxious provisions' within the Act.

The rejection came during a press briefing held in Abuja on Thursday, February 26, 2026, where opposition leaders vowed to employ all constitutional avenues to prevent the Act's implementation. They accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led National Assembly and President Bola Tinubu of enacting the law with 'contemptuous haste' to 'weaken opposition, corrupt the electoral system, compromise democratic institutions and foist a totalitarian one-party rule on Nigeria.'

Key Concerns: Electronic Transmission and Primaries

The opposition's primary concerns revolve around two critical aspects of the Electoral Act 2026. Firstly, they have strongly criticized the provision that allows for a fallback to manual transmission of election results in cases of technical difficulties, despite the Act mandating electronic transmission to the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV). Critics argue that this 'manual transmission fallback clause' (specifically Section 60(3)) creates loopholes for manipulation and undermines the transparency that electronic transmission is meant to ensure.

Secondly, the opposition has raised objections to Section 84 of the Act, which restricts political parties to only direct primaries and consensus methods for candidate selection, effectively abolishing indirect primaries. This change, they contend, could disadvantage smaller parties and is seen as a deliberate move to weaken the opposition. The parties also pointed to the recent Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections as a 'test-run' of alleged rigging plans for the upcoming 2027 general elections.

Government Defends Reforms

President Bola Tinubu assented to the Electoral Act 2026 on February 18, 2026, following its passage by the National Assembly. The President has defended the new law, stating that it aims to 'strengthen democracy,' 'prevent voter disenfranchisement,' and 'close gaps, strengthen procedures, and provide greater clarity' to the electoral process. Regarding the manual transmission provision, President Tinubu cited concerns about Nigeria's broadband capability and the potential for hacking as reasons for retaining the manual fallback.

Proponents of the Act highlight several reforms, including the formalization of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as the sole mandatory method for voter accreditation, and the streamlining of election administration by adjusting the notice period for elections to 300 days and requiring candidate lists 120 days before a general election. The Act also increases the fine for illegal buying or selling of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to ₦5 million.

Call for Fresh Amendments

Despite the government's assurances, the opposition remains resolute in its demand for a fresh amendment process. They insist that the National Assembly must remove all 'obnoxious provisions' to ensure the Act truly reflects the will of Nigerians for a free, fair, transparent, and credible electoral process. The ongoing debate underscores the deep divisions over the future of electoral integrity in Nigeria as the nation prepares for its next cycle of democratic engagement.