By|| Goodluck E.Adubazi || Abuja
Nigeria’s major opposition political parties on Thursday issued a strong warning over what they described as an “anti-democratic” Electoral Act 2026, calling on Nigerians to unite in defense of the nation’s democracy.
Speaking at a joint press conference held at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, the National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ahmed, said opposition leaders had convened to resist what they termed a dangerous assault on democratic principles.
The opposition bloc accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led National Assembly of rushing the Electoral Act 2026 through parliament, alleging that it was hurriedly signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu without adequate consideration of public concerns.
‘A Direct Threat to Electoral Transparency’
Ahmed described the new law as “obnoxious” and argued that its provisions would undermine transparency, weaken opposition parties, and erode public confidence in elections.
Central to the opposition’s objection is Section 63 of the Act, which grants discretionary powers to presiding officers in the transmission of election results.
According to the NNPP chairman, the clause could allow delays in electronic transmission under the pretext of network failure — a move he claimed creates room for manipulation.
He cited previous assurances by former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, who had stated that electoral transmission devices could function offline and upload results once connectivity is restored.
The opposition also referenced data from the Nigerian Communications Commission indicating over 90 percent network coverage nationwide, arguing that claims of inadequate connectivity are unfounded.
Opposition leaders further criticized amendments to Section 84 of the Act, which limit political parties to direct primaries or consensus methods for selecting candidates.
They argued that the restriction infringes on the constitutional autonomy of political parties and eliminates indirect primaries — a system they described as transparent and structured.
“There is nothing undemocratic about indirect primaries,” Ahmed said, insisting that the National Assembly lacks the authority to dictate internal party procedures.
The opposition alleged that the amendment is designed to create disunity within rival parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, claiming it could pave the way for what they described as a “coronation” rather than a contest.
The leaders pointed to recent local government elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as evidence of their concerns, alleging discrepancies between accredited voters and recorded votes.
They described the election as “deeply flawed” and warned that similar outcomes could occur nationwide under the new Electoral Act.
The opposition said it had given the current INEC leadership the “benefit of the doubt,” but expressed disappointment in the conduct of the FCT polls.
Another major concern raised was declining voter turnout. The opposition noted that participation rates in recent off-cycle elections ranged between 7 and 15 percent, describing the trend as a sign of eroding public trust.
“When citizens believe their votes will not count, democracy suffers,” Ahmed said.
The coalition also condemned rising incidents of political violence, including reported attacks on members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Edo and Lagos States.
Democracy, they stressed, must be anchored on competition of ideas rather than intimidation and bloodshed.
In a sharp rebuke, the opposition accused elements within the judiciary of being complicit in undermining democracy, alleging a pattern of controversial rulings in electoral disputes.
“The judiciary must not be weaponized,” Ahmed declared, urging judges to uphold neutrality and restore public confidence in the legal system.
Prominent Leaders Align with Position
Among other opposition figures who addressed the press conference were former Senate President David Mark; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi; and NNPP chieftain Buba Galadima.
The leaders collectively called for constitutional and legal measures to challenge the Act and urged Nigerians to remain vigilant.
The opposition concluded by warning that failure to address the issues surrounding the Electoral Act 2026 could trigger political instability.
“We are determined to protect the sanctity of the ballot and the will of the people,” Ahmed said. “This is a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy.”
The coming weeks are expected to test the strength of the opposition’s resolve as political tensions continue to mount ahead of the 2027 general elections.
