JUST-IN: Opposition Leaders Reject Electoral Act 2026, Demand Fresh Amendment

Leaders of opposition political parties in Nigeria have rejected the newly signed Electoral Act 2026, insisting that its implementation would jeopardise the country’s democratic progress.

.They made their position known at a world press conference on the state of the nation, held at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja on Thursday.

The press conference was attended by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark; ADC National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola; and the National Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ajuji Ahmed.

Others present included former governor Peter Obi; former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi; NNPP Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Buba Galadima; Senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe; and former governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke.

MSpeaking on behalf of the opposition leaders, the NNPP National Chairman, Ajuji Ahmed, said the Electoral Act 2026, “hurriedly” signed by President Bola Tinubu, contains loopholes that could be exploited to rig the 2027 general elections.

The opposition specifically faulted Sections 60(3) and 84 of the Act, which address electronic transmission of election results and the mode of primary elections by political parties.
Section 60(3) states:

“The Presiding Officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the IReV portal, and such transmission shall be done after the prescribed Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the Presiding Officer and/or countersigned by the candidates or polling agents, where available, at the polling unit.

Provided that if the electronic transmission of the result fails as a result of communication failure and it becomes impossible to transmit the result contained in Form EC8A signed and stamped by the Presiding Officer and countersigned by the candidates or polling agents where available at the polling unit, the Form EC8A shall remain the primary source of collation and declaration of the result.”
Section 84(2) states:

“The procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions shall be by direct primaries or consensus.”

The opposition leaders called on the National Assembly to urgently commence a fresh amendment of the Electoral Act 2026 to remove what they described as “obnoxious provisions.”

They also condemned the conduct and outcome of last Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election, describing it as a sign of what Nigerians should expect in the 2027 general elections.