Electoral Act 2026: Presidency Knocks ADC, NNPP Over ‘Misleading Claims’

The Presidency has accused the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) of spreading misinformation regarding the recently enacted Electoral Act 2026, insisting that the new law strengthens Nigeria’s electoral process rather than undermining democracy.
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, made the clarification in a statement issued on Thursday, following criticisms by opposition parties which described the amended law as “obnoxious” and a threat to democratic governance.
President Tinubu had on February 18 assented to the Electoral Act amendment bill after its passage by the National Assembly.
The amended legislation provides for electronic transmission of election results, while allowing manual collation as a backup in situations where technology fails. It also mandates political parties to adopt direct primaries or consensus arrangements in the nomination of candidates.
However, the ADC and NNPP rejected key provisions of the law and urged the National Assembly to repeal and re-enact the legislation, alleging that it could pave the way for a one-party state.
Reacting, Onanuga urged opposition parties to desist from what he described as “unwarranted outrage and constant lamentation,” accusing them of attempting to mislead Nigerians for political advantage.
According to him, the opposition’s criticisms were exaggerated and rooted in internal organisational challenges rather than genuine concerns about electoral integrity.
He maintained that the new Electoral Act represents a significant improvement on the previous framework, noting that it closes loopholes allegedly exploited for electoral manipulation.
“The opposition should stop exaggerating the effects of the new Electoral Act. Their inability to organise and their tendency to blame others for their own disorganisation and unpreparedness are evident,” the statement said.
Onanuga further alleged that some opposition parties were collaborating with certain civil society organisations to promote disinformation against both the legislature and the administration.
Defending provisions relating to result transmission, the presidential aide explained that real-time electronic transmission remains central to the process, while Form EC8A serves only as a contingency measure in areas affected by network challenges.
He dismissed claims that the use of manual backup could enable manipulation, arguing that technological limitations in parts of the country necessitate alternative safeguards.
On concerns surrounding the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Results Viewing Portal (IReV), Onanuga clarified that the platform is designed solely for public viewing of uploaded results and not for official collation.
He emphasised that Form EC8 documents remain the legally recognised basis for validating election outcomes.
The presidential spokesman also defended the adoption of direct primaries, describing the opposition’s resistance as puzzling, and insisting that the method promotes broader participation compared to delegate-based systems.
According to him, lawmakers engaged in extensive consultations over two years with stakeholders, experts and citizens before finalising the amendments, particularly to address risks associated with technological failures during elections.
Onanuga also rejected allegations that the administration intends to impose a one-party system, stressing that Nigeria continues to operate a multi-party democracy with over a dozen registered political parties.
“In summary, the opposition is merely crying foul because the rules of the game have been adjusted to prevent manipulation,” he stated, adding that the challenges facing opposition parties stem largely from internal disorganisation rather than government interference.