ABUJA — Nigeria’s major opposition figures on Thursday launched a coordinated attack on President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress, rejecting the newly amended Electoral Act 2026 and warning it could trigger a democratic crisis ahead of the 2027 general elections.
At a joint press conference in Abuja, the coalition — which included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra governor Peter Obi, former Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi, Senator David Mark, and other opposition leaders — described the amended law as “anti-democratic” and called for its immediate review by the National Assembly.
Reading the coalition’s position, NNPP National Chairman Ajuji Ahmed said the opposition was united in what he termed a bid to “rescue Nigeria’s democracy,” arguing that key provisions in the law could undermine transparency, particularly regarding the electronic transmission of results.
At the centre of the dispute is Section 60(3) of the Act, which the opposition claims gives excessive discretion to presiding officers and weakens mandatory real-time transmission of polling unit results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s results portal. The group dismissed concerns about network failure, citing previous assurances by INEC officials that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System performed with over 90 per cent success nationwide.
The coalition also faulted amendments to Section 84 restricting political parties to direct primaries or consensus arrangements for candidate selection. It argued that banning indirect primaries amounts to unconstitutional interference in party autonomy and could destabilise opposition parties ahead of 2027.
Opposition leaders further cited the recent Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections as evidence of what they described as flaws in the amended law. They alleged irregularities in vote figures and decried low voter turnout, warning that declining participation reflects eroding public confidence in the electoral system.
During the briefing, the coalition condemned an alleged gun attack on ADC leaders in Benin, Edo State, describing it as part of a growing pattern of political intolerance. They called on security agencies to investigate the incident and safeguard opposition figures.
In separate remarks, Obi described the current administration as lacking effective governance, while Atiku urged that the opposition’s concerns be communicated to the international community, warning that instability in Nigeria could have wider implications for Africa. Amaechi, however, acknowledged internal weaknesses within opposition ranks and called for stronger coordination ahead of future contests. Senator Mark vowed that the coalition would “defend our votes” in subsequent elections.
Responding, the Presidency dismissed the opposition’s claims as “reckless” and “spurious.” In a statement, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the amended law strengthens, rather than weakens, electoral transparency by permitting real-time transmission of results while retaining Form EC8A as a safeguard in cases of network failure. He accused opposition parties of misrepresenting the role of the INEC Results Viewing Portal, stressing that it is not a collation centre.
The APC also rejected allegations linking it to the reported attack in Edo State. In a separate statement, party spokesman Felix Morka described the ADC as internally divided and dismissed accusations against the ruling party as “delusional.” He urged law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident and prosecute those responsible.
With both sides digging in, the dispute over the Electoral Act is shaping up as an early flashpoint in the run-up to the 2027 elections, underscoring deepening political tensions over the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process.
