…Senate leaders insist that any amendment must follow established constitutional processes within the legislature.
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Senate is facing mounting pressure from leaders of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), who on Thursday called for the immediate amendment of the Electoral Act 2026, describing it as anti-democratic and skewed ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, the Senate swiftly dismissed the demand, urging opposition figures including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi to channel their grievances through the National Assembly.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, NNPP National Chairman, Ajuji Ahmed, insisted that the contentious provisions in the new law must be removed without delay.
Under the Electoral Act 2022, political parties could nominate candidates through direct primaries involving all registered members, indirect primaries conducted by delegates, or consensus arrangements. But the 2026 Electoral Act, recently passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on February 18, limits parties to only direct primaries and consensus.
The new law also shortens campaign periods and timelines for primaries, while funding for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will now be released six months before elections instead of 12 months.
Ahmed said opposition leaders view aspects of the 2026 Act as a deliberate attempt by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine the electorate’s will ahead of 2027.
Reading from a prepared statement, he described the Act as anti-democratic, warning that its implementation would weaken electoral transparency and compromise the sanctity of the ballot.
He criticised the provision in Section 60(3), which grants discretionary powers to presiding officers, arguing that it undermines the purpose of electronic transmission of results from polling units. According to him, the clause could enable manipulation under the guise of network failure.
Ahmed rejected the network failure justification, citing remarks by former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, who had stated that the BVAS system operates offline with over 90 per cent success nationwide and that results would transmit once network access is restored. He also referenced comments attributed to former INEC Commissioner, Festus Okoye, asserting that all polling units have internet access.
He added that data from the Nigerian Communications Commission showed over 95 per cent 2G coverage as of 2023, alongside more than 159 million internet subscribers and over 220 million telephone subscribers, arguing that this undermines claims that real-time result transmission is impractical.
The opposition further faulted the amendment to Section 84, which confines parties to direct primaries and consensus, describing it as an intrusion into parties’ constitutional autonomy. Ahmed maintained that indirect primaries are democratic and transparent, insisting that parties should retain the freedom to determine their nomination processes without legislative imposition.
He accused the APC-led government and its allies in the legislature of attempting to create legal grounds to compromise the electoral system, demanding that the National Assembly urgently revisit and amend the Act to remove what he termed “obnoxious provisions.”
On the judiciary, the opposition alleged that the institution, meant to safeguard democracy, has in recent years been weaponised against it. Ahmed stressed that democracy cannot thrive without an independent and impartial judiciary and urged judges to avoid partisan entanglements.
In his remarks, Amaechi, a former APC presidential aspirant, said the opposition’s biggest challenge was internal weakness rather than President Tinubu. He recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari had declined to sign certain electoral reforms after being advised against it, adding that the opposition must refine its strategy ahead of 2027.
Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, decried worsening poverty, insecurity and economic hardship, alleging that the Federal Government had borrowed heavily without delivering tangible improvements. He called for unity among opposition parties to “save the country.”
Atiku Abubakar urged that the opposition’s concerns about the electoral process be communicated to foreign embassies, warning that a collapse of democracy in Nigeria could have wider implications for Africa. He also cautioned that past opposition alliances had failed to deliver lasting reforms, stressing the need for genuine commitment.
Among those present were ADC National Chairman David Mark, NNPP chieftain Buba Galadima, ADC National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, Bolaji Abdullahi, Senator Dino Melaye, Ralph Nwosu and former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke.
Senate reacts
Responding, Senate spokesman Senator Yemi Adaramodu advised the opposition to submit formal proposals through lawmakers rather than escalate tensions. He dismissed calls for another review of the Act, saying any concerns should be addressed within legislative procedures.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on South-East Development Commission, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, maintained that only the National Assembly has the constitutional authority to amend the Electoral Act, cautioning opposition leaders against rhetoric that could destabilise the polity.
The exchange highlights growing political tensions as parties begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections. While the opposition is pushing for revisions to strengthen transparency and fairness, Senate leaders insist that any amendment must follow established constitutional processes within the legislature.
